Bench Warmers
Pt. 4 - Don't Miss Your Sign
I. Introduction
If you are a baseball fan, then you know that coaches use a variety of hand signals and gestures that catchers use to communicate with their pitcher about the pitch they want them to throw. There is also a long-standing tradition of sign stealing. Years ago, the Detroit Tigers used a spotter tucked away in the scoreboard to read the catcher's signs, which were relayed to the hitter by moving the eyes of a large Indian head mounted on an advertisement. There are stories and legends of numerous teams utilizing telescopes, binoculars, rifle scopes, watching the tv broadcasts and calling the coach in the dugout, having people positioned in the stands that would remove their gloves for a curveball, a refrigerator lights positioned on the scoreboard to signal fastball or curve and most recently the Astros who were found guilty of banging on a trash can to signal what pitch was coming. The signs from the catcher aren't the only signs given. The third base coach will give signals to the batter and runners on base so the batter will know whether they should bunt to advance the runner or swing to protect a stealing runner. The signs also tell the base runner when they should steal. One of the cardinal sins in baseball and one that will almost immediately get you benched is to miss a sign! Some teams even fine their players for missing a sign.
The benchwarmer we have been talking about over the last few weeks missed a sign too.
Text: Jonah 1:1-5 (TLT)
The Lord gave this message to Jonah son of Amittai: “Get up and go to the great city of Nineveh. Announce my judgment against it because I have seen how wicked its people are.” But Jonah got up and went in the opposite direction to get away from the Lord. He went down to the port of Joppa, where he found a ship leaving for Tarshish. He bought a ticket and went on board, hoping to escape from the Lord by sailing to Tarshish. But the Lord hurled a powerful wind over the sea, causing a violent storm that threatened to break the ship apart. Fearing for their lives, the desperate sailors shouted to their gods for help and threw the cargo overboard to lighten the ship.
But all this time Jonah was sound asleep down in the hold.
Benchwarmers are often on the bench because they have missed a sign.
Jonah hears from God, disobeys and runs. Then while on the boat God sends a powerful storm that is about to capsize the boat. Jonah is oblivious and sleeps through the storm. So, apparently and much to his own demise and almost the demise of the sailors Jonah missed the first sign or indication that God might be a little miffed that Jonah wasn't responding and obeying the call that was on his life.
I wonder how many of us are on the bench because we missed the sign? The Word teaches us that God is no respecter of persons. He treats us all the same when it comes to this fact . . . 1 Peter 4:10 - God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. So, if He has given each of us a gift, then each of us are also called to use that gift to serve those in the body. So, if we are riding the pine, then it must mean that we have simply missed the sign. Signals got crossed, distraction took hold, misunderstanding took place, or we flat out ignored the indications that God sent to us that we had a part to play! Maybe it was out of innocence or even ignorance . . . I didn't think I had anything to offer, I didn't know God could use someone like me. The signal came and we simply missed it or ran from it. We were asleep!
However, I want you to notice something from our benchwarmer's story. Jonah didn't miss the second sign.
Jonah 1:15-17
Then the sailors picked Jonah up and threw him into the raging sea, and the storm stopped at once! The sailors were awestruck by the Lord’s great power, and they offered him a sacrifice and vowed to serve him.
Now the Lord had arranged for a great fish to swallow Jonah. And Jonah was inside the fish for three days and three nights.
Jonah 2:10
Then the Lord ordered the fish to spit Jonah out onto the beach.
That is a pretty drastic sign and we know Jonah paid attention to it because we read this in . . .
Jonah 3:1-3
Then the Lord spoke to Jonah a second time: “Get up and go to the great city of Nineveh, and deliver the message I have given you.” This time Jonah obeyed the Lord’s command and went to Nineveh, a city so large that it took three days to see it all.
What Jonah's response to the time in the fish teaches us is this . . .
The only way to stay on bench is to ignore the second signal.
I mean let's be honest the second signal was rather hard to miss don't you think? I mean here you are on a sinking boat; they throw you overboard and now all of a sudden you become fish food and instead of you catching fish a fish catches you! I mean come on a fish swallowed him how could he miss that? It was kind of obvious right? It is no wonder that Jonah's attention is riveted on God and he responds correctly to the call and obeys! It seems like a no brainer.
But I just have to wonder today what big fish has He sent you to get your attention? What has swallowed you to get your attention. Some of us are on the bench because we have chosen to ignore the second signal. We missed the first one but now the second signal is here and we are swallowed and we continue to miss it.
Depression?
Addiction?
Heartbreak?
Relationship struggles?
Anxiousness?
Sleeplessness?
Spiritual unrest?
I watch the lives of people around me going to whale in a hand basket and I have to ask, "don't they see it"? Can't they perceive? Don't they realize? They continue to run. Continue to try to escape. Continue to ignore. Continue to go the other direction. And usually, the entire time they continue to ask, "Why?". Why am I going through this? Why won't this pain end? Why won't this season change? Why don't I have any peace? Why am I missing out on the blessings those around me are experiencing?
Whale, let me tell you!
What is happening is you are ignoring the signals. Don’t fall asleep in the middle of a wakeup call!
Hear me today, the real question is not why did you miss the first call choices, relationships, distractions, and detours? The more important question is why are you missing the repeated calls? What is it going to take or continue to take to get you to respond? To obey? To get back in the game?
Some of us missed the first call. Some of us have been ignoring the second call. However, it is time to answer the call. The only way to find relief is to respond! We underestimate endurance of call. It outlasts our past. It outreaches our path. The truth is your choice of course (run) doesn’t cancel His call. What I want you to recognize not only can you not get away from His call but . . .
A second call reveals that you still have a role to play.
I want you to notice that Jonah not only got a second signal/sign, but he also got a second call! I want you to hear me today . . . God is the God of the second chance! He continues to send signals/signs because He still has a call for you! You may be experiencing the pain of ignoring previous calls, but don't miss your sign! He is still calling you. He is still able to use you. He is still able to send you. He is still able and willing to put you in the game to make a difference.
Some of you think you have missed or ignored the call too long or too often. You think you have missed the opportunity to be a good spouse. But I came to tell you He is calling again! Some of you think you have missed the call to be a good parent. The call is coming again. There is still time! Some of you think you have missed your chance to impact others. He is still calling you. Some of you think you have missed the call to serve but He is still calling. I know you are experiencing the pain of refusal. The pain of disobedience. But He is calling again! Respond! Get off the bench.
If the call is there, then the commission is still there!
