Former major league baseball catcher and TV personality, Joe Garagiola, tells about a time when St. Louis Cardinal’s great and hall of famer, Stan Musial came to the plate in a critical game. At the time Musial was a super hitter and was at the peak of his career. As such, opposing pitchers dreaded him coming to bat. On this particular occasion the opposing pitcher was facing Musial for the first time. He was both young and nervous. Garagiola, as the catcher, called for a fastball and the pitcher shook his head; Joe signaled for a curve and again the pitcher shook him off. He then asked for one of the pitcher's specialties and once again the pitcher shook his head no. So Joe went out to the mound for a conference. He said, “I've called for every pitch in the book; what do you want to throw?”
“Nothing,” was the pitcher's nervous reply. He continued, “I just want to hold on to the ball as long as I can.”
The pitcher was so scared he seemingly couldn’t get the at-bat started. It would be like a track race and the starter called, “On your mark,” and one of the runners just couldn’t seem to make his or her way to the starting blocks.
How often are we like that with the calling God places on our lives? We are so nervous over what lies in front of us, so scared of what God is asking us to do, we don’t quite get started.
This morning we are beginning a new talk series I have titled, “The Race.” In a couple of places in the New Testament the metaphor of a track race is used for the life of faith. Paul says in 2 Timothy, “I have fought the good fight, finished the race, and kept the faith.” For Paul, fighting the good fight to finish the race is overcoming the struggles (fighting the good fight) to have lived out a full life of faith (finishing the race and keeping the faith).
In our lesson from Hebrews this morning, the theme passage for this series, the writer says, “So then let’s also run the race that is laid out in front of us, since we have such a great cloud of witnesses surrounding us. Let’s throw off any extra baggage, get rid of the sin that trips us up, and fix our eyes on Jesus, faith’s pioneer and perfecter.” Again, the idea of the race is a metaphor for the life in faith, a life where we are to rid ourselves of the baggage that slows us down and distracts from our primary focus, keeping our eye on Jesus.
Even if you had never watched the runners before the beginning of a track race, I know you have now because we just showed you one. If you watch them, some are joking around. Some remain entirely focused on the race about to begin. Most all of them are stretching or jumping around, doing something to either get their muscles loose or keep them loose. Then the starter calls, “On your marks.” It is the signal the runners the race is about to begin. They move to the starting blocks. Some may stretch a little more but they are all, in their own way, focusing in on the race. Some pray, some stretch a bit more, they all get their feet set in the starting blocks. But, within a few seconds they all become still. And, until they are all still, the starter will remain quiet. The runners become focused. It is almost show time.
I asked the youth to help me out this week. We worked together to make a video last Wednesday night. My thanks to the youth, Daniel, and Cindy for helping me with this project. First, we had a little race. Well, at least it was the beginning of a race. Next I asked the kids a few questions about what “On your mark” might mean in the context of the church. Is there any person they would follow, no questions asked and if they were to follow someone no questions asked what would they be leaving behind. A few, and Daniel, were willing to go on video. Let’s take a look.
What does, “On Your Mark” mean. Well, to put it simply, it is like saying, “May I have your attention please? The race is about to begin.” In the context of the church we need to look at our lesson from Matthew this morning. “On your mark,” I believe is a call to discipleship.
Jesus comes up to the very first of the disciples, the three that would become his inner core plus Andrew, and in essence says, “Simon, Andrew, on your mark.” “James and John, on your mark.” “Simon, Andrew, James and John, may I have your attention please? The race is about to begin.”
When we look at the text in this light we switch “On your Mark” from being the beginning command of a literal race to more of a spiritual race, the race the writer of Hebrews is talking about at the beginning of chapter 12. When Jesus tells these four, and eventually the other eight and many others, to “come and follow me,” he is calling them to a life of faith. He even tells them about their call, “I will teach you to fish for people.” When I place it into the race metaphor, Jesus is saying get ready and I will teach you how to race.
So here is the deal. We all are called by God to do the work of ministry in the world. We are all called to be part of the race, part of the life in faith. None of us are exempt. Some of us are called to professional ministry, sometimes called representative ministry. Some are called to music ministry. Some are called to do the administrative work of the church. Some are called to be teachers and I don’t just mean Sunday school teachers, though those too are a calling. Some are even called to prepare meals for people during times of need. Some are called to do the necessary work that keeps our building sound and in good repair. The list of things we might be called to is virtually endless. And, they are all important. They are how we run the race, the life in faith.
Jesus says to you and me, “On your mark!! I am calling you to a race, a race unlike the other things you might have done in life and this race will take you from right here to eternity. It is a spiritual race that is not a sprint but a marathon longer than 26.2 miles. Get ready.”
When Jesus met Simon, Andrew, James and John on the lake that day, Matthew seems to imply they didn’t know who Jesus was, and interestingly enough, they were ready to follow him, no questions asked.
When I asked the youth if they would be willing to follow someone no questions asked, there response was always someone they knew, and that’s OK. When our children are young we teach them not to be too trusting of strangers. We teach them not go places with strangers. We would hope they wouldn’t follow a stranger, no questions asked. It probably wouldn’t work out very well.
That habit spills over into our adult lives and honestly most of us wouldn’t be too willing to go and follow someone we didn’t know, no questions asked, and with good reason. Yet when we look at the story of the calling of the first disciples they went and they followed a stranger, no questions asked.
When Jesus called the disciples to follow, they dropped what they were doing and started following. They left careers, they left boats and other fishing equipment. They even left family behind. We know they left all that because the Scripture says of Andrew and Simon, “…they left their nets…” and of James and John, “…they left their boats and their father…”
When I asked the youth what they would be leaving behind their response was they wouldn’t leave much of anything behind. In reality, when any of us respond to the call of Jesus Christ we probably leave something behind. I loved Reagan’s answer that she would be leaving her sin behind and while when we confess our sins we find forgiveness and that sin is left behind, we are going to sin again. I wish it were otherwise. But, in truth, what we leave behind, when we respond to Jesus’ call of discipleship is, at the very least something Reagan was very close to. We leave behind an old self-centered lifestyle that puts me first in exchange for a lifestyle that puts God first and then places others ahead of ourselves.
“On your mark” is our call to discipleship. It is a call we all respond to. Even if we ignore the call, that is a response. The real question is, Jesus is calling us, are we willing to follow, no questions asked? Remember, you just might have to leave some things behind.
NASCAR racing star Jeff Gordon knows a little something about running a race though instead of, “On Your Mark,” Gordon’s call to get ready is, “Drivers start your engines.”
In 1999 Billy Graham held a crusade in Indianapolis, home of the Indianapolis 500 and NASCAR’s Brickyard 400. Over the four days of the crusade Graham used the terminology and glory of sports as a metaphor for the gospel life. The analogy went over well in the city that is arguably the world capitol of motor racing. The crowd ate it up each night.
Then when Jeff Gordon stepped onto the stage to share his testimony, the crowd of more than 50,000 rose to his feet, welcoming Gordon like a conquering hero. “Racing is just a small part of my life compared to my relationship with Jesus Christ,” Gordon declared.
It seems to me when Jeff Gordon heard the command, “On your mark,” or in his case, “Drivers start your engines,” not for a race but for THE race, he responded and he has the platform God has given him to the fullest. Gordon understands he is called and he has responded to that call by stepping to the line, getting focused and getting ready to run the race.
We live in a hurting, broken world. We are called to the race. We are called to a life in faith. We are called to be disciples. We are called to be the Church. Will the church work to bridge these gaps in the world or widen them? Will the church be a bridge builder to the future or remain firmly planted and rooted in the past until the tree dies and rots away?
Jesus doesn't call us to walk on water. He did that. Jesus doesn't call us to change water into wine. He did that. Jesus doesn't call us to multiply loaves and fishes. He did that. Jesus doesn't call us to die on a cross. He did that. Jesus does call us to believe in God. Jesus can't do that for us. Jesus does call us to trust God. Jesus can't do that for us. Jesus does call us to love one another. Jesus can't do that for us. Jesus does call us to build bridges. Jesus can't do that for us. The world is literally coming apart, church. We need to build a bridge and get over it.
On your mark. The race starter, Jesus himself is trying to get our attention. The race is about to start. It is time to get up to the line. It is time to get into the starting blocks. It is time for the race. On your mark….
