When you think about a baseball field what do you usually think about? Maybe you think about home plate, the batter’s box, or the pitcher’s mound. Maybe you think about the baseball diamond, the infield, the bases, the outfield, or possibly the fence or the dugouts. These are all important parts of a baseball field, but let us not forget the on deck circle. To many spectators, the on deck circle might not be that important. To some, they just see a player warming up and taking a few practice swings, but knowing who is on deck is really important to decisions that are made during a game. The person on deck has a specific set of talents and abilities. Their talents and abilities mixed with their tendencies can greatly impact how both teams adjust to different circumstances in the game and can impact the team strategy for the next at bat, the next inning, and possibly the rest of the game. Who is on deck is an important question to ask during a baseball game, but it is also an important question to ask in life. Now I am not suggesting that knowing who is on deck is going to have a big impact on your life, but this type of question reminds us of some great lessons we read in God’s Word.
Let us consider passages like James 4:13-17. Unlike the on deck circle in baseball, we do not know what is coming up next in our lives. In fact, this day may be our last. We have not been promised tomorrow. Our life, as we read in James 4:14, is like a vapor. We should not spend our time focused on the things of this world like the rich man in Luke 12:13-21. Bigger barns will not be of any use to us when we are dead.
But just because we do not know exactly what will happen in our life does not mean that we do not need to strategize. Over and over again, scripture tells us to be prepared and watchful. We need to be prepared and watchful for the attacks of the devil. He is throwing fiery darts our way and seeking to devour us (Ephesians 6:10-20, 1 Peter 5:8). We need to be prepared with a defense when our faith and hope are called into question (1 Peter 3:15). We need to be prepared and ready to preach the Word because lost souls are everywhere and just like us they need the Gospel of Jesus Christ (2 Timothy 4:2). We need to be prepared and watchful for the return of Jesus Christ (Titus 2:11-14). One day Jesus is coming to take the faithful home. Will we be ready for Him? Let us use this day to serve and follow God because we don’t know who or what is on deck.
Derek Broome