Benchwarmer
Pt. 5 - Game Day
I. Introduction
As I told you about 7 weeks ago or so, I have been umping little league baseball for the last few seasons. I have learned some things from this experience. I have learned that the ump isn't supposed to dominate the game but facilitate it instead. I have learned that people have preconceived ideas about umpires and treat them accordingly. No one seems to like the umpire! You can't seem to make anyone happy. And the truth is even if you never played or no longer played sports there is still an umpire that oversees this game, we call life.
I want to take us back into the story of Jonah one more time and I think what we see described is how we perceive umpires . . . especially because of the examples you just saw on screen . . . and perhaps how we see THE Umpire!
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.
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 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 thrown overboard to drown. Then the Umpire of the Universe goes one step further and has a fish swallow Jonah.
This account solidifies what most of us think about THE Umpire!
We believe The Umpire wants us to strike out!
We are convinced that The Umpire is over the top. Harsh. Spiteful. Out to get us. Only desires to ring us up, call us out, and send us back to the dugout. This is an Ump who enjoys and look forward to striking us out or throwing us out.
How many of us are going through things right now that are painful, unpleasant, heartbreaking, gut wrenching and we know that it is because the Umpire has either caused it or at least allowed it? And if that isn't the case, then The Umpire wasn't watching the game close enough and He has missed the call. It is apparent that He can't see clearly otherwise I wouldn't be going through this. I would be feeling this. I wouldn't be dealing with this.
This storm I am facing was something He should have stopped. This heartbreak is something He should have fixed. This sickness that I have been dealing with for a decade should have been healed long ago.
In the middle of our pain and plight, through tears and shaking with fear all we hear is The Umpire saying . . . You're Out!!!!!!
And so, in our mind, The Umpire is someone we should avoid, keep at a distance. He isn't someone who is here to help but rather to hurt. We should run from Him. We become suspicious of Him at best and angry at Him at worst.
The reason this happens is that most of us only have a contractual or a doctrinal relationship with God. If we deal with the Umpire on a contractual basis then we either become legalistic or casual. The legalists are afraid they’ll break the contract and God will be angry. Those who deal with Him casually feel that because they have a contract it doesn’t matter what they do. If we only deal with Him doctrinally say, "I’m in Christ, nothing can hurt our relationship.” This is a person who has a doctrinal arrangement.
Our preconceived ideas keep us from having relationship with The Umpire. We never graduate to the understanding that this isn't about God hurting us; it should be the fear of breaking God’s heart and hurting our relationship.
In fact, when you read the account of Jonah what you discover is that . . .
Even when the Umpire calls a strike or even an out that doesn't mean the game is over!
Even when a strike is called. Even when you are sent to the dugout to hangout for a little bit doesn't mean the game is over. There are still bases to run, cuts to take, life to live, challenges to overcome, victories to be one. Others may try to play umpire and dismiss you from the game. Others may try to disqualify you. Others may give up on you. Others may wag their head in frustration and dismay. But The Umpire will call you back to the plate again.
Jonah 2:10
Then the Lord ordered the fish to spit Jonah out onto the beach.
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.
You may feel like been called out but actually He is just calling you in.
Psalms 103:3
You kissed my heart with forgiveness, in spite of all I have done (all the bad swings, the errors, the missed opportunities). You have healed me inside and out from every disease!
What Jonah learned and what David knew was that your mess is simply a set up!
The first trip to the plate you didn't get the job done. You left runners in scoring position. But what they learned was that the time in the dugout was just preparation so that when you get back to the plate you won't get caught looking. You will be laser focused. You will be on point and on plan. You will knock it out of the park!
Your mess up during the first trip to the plate was necessary so that you could learn to see with His eyes! That first strike was to get you to adjust to His strike zone. That first mistake was so you would learn to play by His rules so that you can win!
I want you to see what Jonah finally concludes about The Umpire! He comes to the proper perception that I want you to come to today!
Jonah 4:2
I knew that you are a merciful and compassionate God, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. You are eager to turn back from destroying people.
Wait . . . The Umpire isn't over the top. The Umpire isn't mean. He isn't out to get us. He isn't out to destroy us. He doesn't get joy out of watching us suffer. He doesn't secretly root for our demise. NO!!!! He calls the strikes and even calls some outs, but the truth is that according to . . .
Psalms 136:1-3 - Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever. Give thanks to the God of gods. His faithful love endures forever. Give thanks to the Lord of lords. His faithful love endures forever.
23-26 - He remembered us in our weakness. His faithful love endures forever. He saved us from our enemies. His faithful love endures forever. He gives food to every living thing. His faithful love endures forever. Give thanks to the God of heaven. His faithful love endures forever.
Numbers 14:18 - The Lord is slow to anger and filled with unfailing love, forgiving every kind of sin and rebellion. But he does not excuse the guilty.
Don't get it twisted . . . He will call you out! However, He desires to see you succeed!
Favorite memory of last season - really poor pitching. It was a walk fest. Run rule is 15 after 3. Game is over. Last batter. Last game of season. Kid came up that had walked over and over. Never swung the bat. Runner at 3rd base. I talked to him. On 3 and 0 count ball in dirt I called strike. Strike 1! Parents start railing on umpire. I talked to the batter again. Next ball way above his head. Strike 2! Parents are complaining. But the umpire had a plan. I wanted to see him succeed. Next ball comes in outside, but he finally swings, smashes the ball to right field for a single to score the runner and end the game. I forgot I was the ump and as I stepped in front of the plate to call game, I cheered for him. Way to go. Good job!
What you need to know today is that The Umpire wants to see you succeed. He is rooting for you! He believes in you. He longs for you to hit it over the fence. Don't run from Him. Don't avoid Him. Don't fear Him. Don't distance Him.
Some of you are afraid of The Umpire and you feel like He has been working against you. I assure you today
The Umpire really wants to see you make it home safe! Even if He has to call a few strikes or outs to get you to swing. He wants you to make it home safe!
You're safe!
***** THIS WAS AN ILLUSTRATED MESSAGE PREACHED WHILE DRESSED IN MY UMPIRE GEAR. THE SERMON BUMPER WAS A COMPILATION OF UMPIRE VIDEO SHOWING UMPS WHO ARE VERY DRAMATIC AND ANTIMATED WHEN THEY MAKE OUT CALLS.
