Brooks Robinson
— Sin
But God shows his love for us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us. Romans 5:8 (RSV)
There are plenty of temptations in professional baseball. I suppose there are temptations no matter where you work. But in baseball you travel a great deal. You never stay long in one place. While you're on the road, you put up in a different hotel every week, eat in different restaurants, even go to a different church every Sunday.
You're away from the security and familiarity of your home and family. And you have a lot of free time. This gives the devil a lot to work with. And he does just that. Many men have wrecked their characters and their lives by playing fast and loose on the road.
Before I became a Christian, I knew when I sinned and I regretted it. I've been brought up in a church-going family. I had principles and I was aware when they were violated. But it didn't bother me too much. But as a Christian, things are different. When I commit a sin, there's nothing casual about how I feel. I'm not simply violating a self-created "code of honor." I know now that I am sinning against the One who gave His life for me on the cross.
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Someone has said that the closer we get to Christ, the more conscious we are of sin. I believe this is true.
In an old comic strip, Andy Gump tells his son Chester that he's been disobeying too much. To make his point, he puts up a post in the back yard and tells Chester he will drive a nail into the post for each disobedience.
When the post is just about covered with nails, Chester adopts a new attitude. Andy then begins to pull out a nail each time his son obeys him. When the last nail is drawn, he calls Chester to see the post. But Chester begins to cry.
"What's the matter?" Andy asks in surprise.
"The scars are still there," the boy answers.
That's one of the disagreeable things about sin. It leaves a person feeling scarred.
I imagine that's the way the prodigal son felt when he finally came to his senses far from home and with all his money gone. Fortunately he adopted a humble attitude. He came to his father with a full confession, admitting that he had given up his right to be called a son.
Many people fail to take this attitude when they have violated God's commandments. Instead they feel proud and defiant. "Why should I get down on my knees and grovel before God?" they ask. "There are plenty of people worse than I am!"
Pride is probably the thing that causes us to sin the most. Just take the matter of receiving credit for something. When we do something outstanding, we naturally want recognition. We accept it gladly. And if it doesn't come or it goes to someone else, we feel deflated. And yet Jesus said to His followers, "Without me, you can do nothing." This means that anything worthwhile we may
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accomplish, we accomplish in His strength and under His direction. And it should be for His glory, nor ours. Small wonder when we grab praise for ourselves rightfully belonging to Him that we find ourselves unable to ward off temptation!
But the best part of the story of the prodigal son takes place when he gets back home. His father runs to meet him with joy. While the young man is making his confession, his father is shouting to the servants to bring the best clothes and a ring for his finger. A great celebration is ordered.
This story was told by Jesus to illustrate how joyfully God forgives us when we approach Him in humility. How can we be too proud to do this when Jesus went to the cross on our behalf? Hasn't He done as much as He could to convince us of His father's love and mercy?
Can you honestly say about your own past, "Father, I have done wrong in the sight of heaven and in your eyes. I don't deserve to be called your son any more"? If you can, and if you can see that God through Christ is ready to forgive you, you stand on the threshold of a new life.
Prayer
Dear Lord, like the prodigal son, I confess my sin and come before You with no excuses. I present nothing but my faith in Your Son. Forgive as You have promised. I ask it in Jesus' name. Amen.
Brooks Robinson was an All-Star third baseman with the Baltimore Orioles; Most Valuable Player in the American League, 1964.
