Touching all the bases
The believer’s life and even the unbeliever’s is sorta like a baseball game in a sense.
To the world and the many false religions out there, many somehow think when up to bat and seeing as in their thinking they have hit a home run and rounding the bases only to be called out by the umpire at home plate. Reason being, the umpire at first base took note they failed to touch first base.
First base is very important. First base represents repentance. It’s the base where we all get in and repenting of the terrible condemning sin of rejecting The Lord Jesus. Though in their minds and the excitement of thinking the home run of their power and goodness was all that was needed, nevertheless the umpire at home plate knew because the umpire at first base took note they had not touched his base. They overlooked first base due to self confidence.
Next we have the first believer up to bat and as the first batter also hits a home run and clears first base OK because he had repented and travels on around to home plate only to hear the words, “you’re out” and finds he suffers great loss due to the missing second base.
Second base represents the separated life in simply laying aside every weight and the sin that doeth easily beset us. Making it on to home plate, saved, yes but suffering loss at the Bema Seat.
Next up is also another believer and another home run. This batter clears both first base and second base and makes it to home plate but totally surprised to hear the words, “you’re out.” when he learns he missed third base. Saved, yes, living a decent and clean life and that separated to some degree but somewhat confident in himself due to his accomplishment, nevertheless the umpire at third base took notice he failed to touch this very important base.
The last believer up to bat does not do so well at hitting the ball and so does not hit a home run, at least not in his eyes. Nevertheless, he does get a hit and off and running, though struggling as he run his race. He clears first base and on to second base and to his surprise clears third base. By now he cannot believe he has made it so far having no confidence in himself.
He continues onward and makes it home to plate and to his surprise, hears the words of the umpire at home plate. “You’re Safe.”
This batter, though having started off with what is in his mind an impossible trip back to home plate knowing all his weaknesses, realizes, surely someone must have miraculously intervened on his behalf.
The difference in this batter was the importance overlooked by the runner before him.
Third base represents the total surrender of the runner and his trusting not in himself but the power of someone else to get him to home plate and hear the words, “well done, thou good and faithful servant.”
“I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.”
John 15:5