It was incredible. On August 6th they were thirteen and one half games out of first place. By September 21st the Seattle Mariners were in sole possession of first place in the American League Western Division. The California Angels had collapsed The Mariners had climbed. It was one of the greatest pennant drives in major league history.
For 63 games of that spectacular baseball season, The Kid, Ken Griffey, Jr., sat on the bench with a broken wrist. Some called him The Natural. Many considered him the best all around baseball player alive. Yet, he sat on the bench. The first part of that season left him out of the line-up.
His frustration grew. His desire to help his team could be indulged only through cheers and encouragement.
Then came that late season charge. Ken Griffy Jr. finally took the field. He played like tomorrow no longer existed. Number 24 sailed across center field making one spectacular play after another. Swinging the bat, his offensive production placed fear in opposing pitchers. And then, in the eighth inning of game 159 in a 162 game season, he stroked a grand slam against the Texas Rangers giving his team a 6-2 victory. With only three games left in the season the Seattle Mariners had closed to within two games of first place. The miracle was under way.
When regular season play came to an end, the Mariners had drawn dead-even with the California Angels for first place. The Division Pennant would hinge on a one game play off — my boys and I were there.
My two sons and I love to sit in the Kingdome when the Mariners are making baseball history. Watching Number 24, The Kid, perform sometimes takes our breath away. During that pennant fever stretch of ‘95 we were sucking wind big time!
I still recall when Ken Griffey, Jr. hit the big leagues. He decided his number would be 24. Of course. Why not? For baseball fans the number 24 occupies special significance.
Another great player also wore number 24. He too was a center fielder. He too punched home runs like clock-work. He too possessed speed and skills like few others before or since. He too was referred to as the Kid — “The Say Hey Kid.” His name was Willy Mays.
It seems to make sense. A boy grows up playing America’s game. He watches his baseball heroes and dreams of following in their cleats. In his teen years, his parents and coaches know something special is about to explode. And in his mind he longs for the day he might wear his favorite player’s number and play the game like his favorite player plays.
This young man, Ken Griffey, Jr., the son of a major league ballplayer, comes to the major leagues at the tender age of, what was it, 18 or 19? He instantly thrills the baseball world. Sooner or later, it had to happen — the reporters ask him the same question I’ve been wondering about, “Hey, Kid, why did you pick number 24?”
Naturally, everyone figured they knew the answer. We all expected him to say, “It’s in honor of Willy Mays.” But then came the unexpected. Ken Griffey, Jr. said, “Because Rickey Henderson wore number 24, of course.”
Huh!? Rickey Henderson? At first the reporters were stunned. Then it all began to make sense. During the 50’s, 60’s and early 70’s, Willy Mays was the greatest in the game. Rickey Henderson grew up idolizing him. As a result, he chose to wear number 24.
Then Rickey broke into the majors. Through the late 70’s, 80’s and still in the 90’s Rickey too had left fans in awe. He still owns the single season and all time base stealing records. Guess who grew up watching him from afar — Ken Griffey, Jr.
Three generations of baseball players. Each wears the same number — 24. It’s a legacy — one man’s tribute to another.
I sometimes wonder...
“Will there be something that marks my life like this?”
“Will my sons and daughter know my number and desire to show it off in their adulthood?”
How about you? What do you intend to pass along? What will your legacy look like?
The Bible talks about legacies. In the Gospel of John, we read, "On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, 'Peace be with you!' After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord. Again Jesus said, 'Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you'" (John 20:19-21). And Paul wrote to Timothy, “And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others” (2 Timothy 2:2). That’s the number I want to wear. That’s the legacy I hope my children will receive. That’s what I want my kids to think about after I’m long gone. I want them to know that Dad was all about Jesus. And I hope that when we all get to heaven they will have passed it along to their children.
So may I offer you two simple--yet profound--things to keep in mind if you desire to leave this kind of legacy? Here they are...
First, make sure you have but one major purpose in your life...this purpose...to glorify God.
In Ephesians One, the Apostle Paul described the believer's ultimate purpose. In verses eleven through fourteen, he wrote:
"11 In him we were also chosen,having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will,
12 in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory.
13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit,
14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession—to the praise of his glory."
Wow! In verses 11 and 12, we find that followers of the Savior are both chosen and predestined. To what end? To this end: that we might "be for the praise of his glory."
In verses 13 and 14, we find that believers were saved and marked with the promise of the Holy Spirit. Again, to what end? To this end: that we might be for "the praise of his glory."
That's it: PURPOSE. Make God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit your first purpose, your first love, your first source for meaning, security, and significance.
Second, make sure you pray like crazy.
When our Savior faced his most difficult times, he prayed. For example, recall Matthew 26:17 through 17:56. In verses 17-30, we see the Lord Jesus partaking of the Last Supper with his disciples. The time for his death was quickly approaching. He knew he would be betrayed and he made it perfectly clear the betrayal would come from Judas. In verses 31-35, we find the account of Jesus predicting the denial of Peter. Jesus would ultimately die because everyone is a sinner...even the most stalwart, like Peter, fails to live a righteous life. And then, then, then comes Gethsemane...
In verses 36-46, we see our Savior as he agonized in prayer. He took with him Peter, James and John. In the Garden of Gethsemane, he said to them, "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me" (verse 38). He moved away from them a little, fell with his face to the ground and prayed: "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me" (verse 39).
Wow again! God the Son asked God the Father to find another way. Think about this for a moment. This is gut-wrenching, heart-stopping prayer. This is prayer that wells up from the deepest places we possess...places filled with wonder and awe, wishes and desperation, whispers and temptations. This is prayer that realizes God is our last, best, and ultimate hope.
Yet, that is not the end of the prayer. In his next breath Jesus prayed, "Yet not as I will, but as you will." Yes, like Jesus, we can pour out our hearts. We can ask anything and everything of our Father in heaven. However, we must not demand that he answer according to our will and our desire. Instead, like Jesus we must ask him, beg him to fulfill his will on our behalf. This is not mere obedience. This is the wisest thing in the world. Afterall, in what crazy scheme would it ever be true that your ideas and my ideas could conceivably be better than God's.
That's it: PRAYER. Go to God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit first and always since he is our creator, our comfort, and our cause.
