March 20, 2015

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:1-2

The Home Run Life is based on this Biblical fact that God has a pattern for your life!

Likewise, this verse states that the world also has a pattern to follow.

Obviously, these two patterns conflict with each other so when you are living according to one pattern you are living in opposition to the other.

If life is illustrated by a baseball diamond and the four bases represent the four critical issues of life, connecting with God, developing character, learning to live in community and being productive in life, then God’s pattern would be represented by running the bases in order.  By contrast, the pattern of the world is demonstrated by running the bases backward.

There are two ways to get to third base. Third base represents the competency base where you produce what you need to prosper in life. Third base is a very important base and getting there is crucial.

One way to get there is to run from home plate up the third base line directly to the base. That is the fastest and easiest way to get to third. Why wouldn’t you do that?

You wouldn’t do that because it is against the rules! It is against the rules because it leaves out the right half of the field! If you tried this is a baseball game you would be out and perhaps kicked off your team.

How would you feel if you were watching the seventh game of the World Series and with the game and the Series on the line in the bottom of the ninth with the winning run out at second base, the star player from your team rips a base hit and the runner at second takes off determined to round third and score? But about the time he gets to third, so does the hitter who ran from home to third. The batter is called out and the base runner in his confusion stops short of third base and is tagged out.

How upset would you be? Wouldn’t you be yelling at your TV and calling that player a fool? Of course you would!

As ridiculous as that scenario seems, it is exactly how most people live their lives. It is the pattern of our world! It is how you run in life apart from knowing God through Christ.

Third base is the production base and we all long to be productive, so why not run there and make it happen? It sounds logical doesn’t it?

To the sinful mind it sounds logical. But in fact, that effort to be productive is actually counter-productive. It results in failure every time. It takes the fun out of the game and deprives you of the joys of being on first base or second base.

This clearly illustrates the truth Paul is proclaiming to the Romans, “God’s pattern is better!” So, you should surrender to God and submit to His way of playing the game! When you do, He will transform how you think about the game and change how you play it. As you connect with Him at home, as He develops His character within you at first base, as you learn to live in community with others at second and when you learn to produce results at third, you will discover a game you never knew before! You will enjoy it more than you ever have before! You will enjoy your team mates as never before! You will win more than you ever won before!

What I have just described is the Home Run Life! Everyone wants to live the Home Run Life but few ever do because it takes a commitment to allow God to fundamentally transform your life. It requires a change of direction and submission to a new manager. You must submit to a new set of rules and a new umpire.

Are you ready to play to win?