Though it may not always feel like it, it’s springtime. The weather might still be colder than we would like, but it’s definitely spring. Do you know why I’m so certain? It’s not the calendar or the fact that the grass is growing and the days are getting It’s the baseball players. As I drive by the parks, I’m beginning to see baseball players everywhere I go. That’s how I know it’s really spring. The gloves are out, baseballs are flying, and the shine of new aluminum bats stand out like a neon sign telling me “It’s spring!”

I love this time of the year. I love the fact that it is starting to get warmer and the grass, trees, and flowers are beginning to look like a painted picture. But that’s not what I love most. What I love most is the baseball. (In fact, as I sit and type this article, the St. Louis Cardinals are about to beat the Brewers in their debut in the new Busch Stadium.) I love watching the players give it their all, the crowd cheering for their team, and the call of the umpire. Of course, that’s assuming that the umpire’s call goes my way.

As much as I enjoy baseball, I have to admit that I really never enjoyed one part of the game. I did not like to be called out. And the way the rules are written, you would think that I’d be alright with the way things work. After all, when batting, a person gets as many as three strikes. Sounds fair enough, doesn’t it?

Think about that. If you miss the ball the first time, you get at least two more chances. It’s not that way in golf, and its not that way in tennis. If you miss the ball in either of those sports, it counts against you. But not in baseball. If you miss twice, you still have at least one more chance.

Now that I think about it, I guess I should have been more understanding when after missing the ball three times the umpire would exclaim, “You’re out!” I should have been more understanding, but I can’t honestly say that I ever was.

I, like most people who played baseball, never enjoyed being called out. Though I realize that the world continues to spin and life goes on, sometimes it sounded so final – especially if the team was counting on a hit…a walk…or anything but an out. But I’ll admit that it never stopped me from coming back, because in the grand scheme of things I was able to remember one important thing – baseball is still a game.

But life is not. And when it comes to matters of eternal life, being called out is final. Scripture makes clear, contrary to some of the current and ever-changing teachings on the end times, that there are no second chances when it comes to the Day of Judgment. Matters of salvation and eternal life are not to be taken lightly as we see in the parable of the rich fool. (Luke 12:13-21)

Peter knew this. We witness the realization of the seriousness of matters concerning our relationship with Jesus Christ when he broke down and bitterly wept after he had denied knowing Jesus not merely once or twice, but three times. Three times he denied knowing the One whom he had just told that he would never desert. Three times he looked out for himself instead of confessing Jesus as the Christ which came so easy when he was with those who agreed with him. Three times he outright said, “I don’t know that man!” Three times!

In the game of baseball, Peter would have been out. Three times he folded under the pressure and did exactly what He told the Lord he would never do. Not once, or twice, but three times. If it were only once, the argument could have been made that he was simply weak, but learned from his error. If it were twice we could simply say that it took him a little longer to realize his mistakes. But it was three times, and it had to seem so final when Peter finally realized what he had done.

He had turned his back on the Son of God, and he did it with purpose and reason. This is where we see that the only thing Peter had in common with a batter at the plate was that he denied his Lord with the same conviction and effort that a batter swings at the ball. But that’s all that can be compared…because this was definitely no game.

But there was an amazing turning point. From the time of Good Friday to Easter morning, it was the same Simon Peter who went sprinting to the empty tomb. When the women returned to tell the disciples the news, Scripture tells us that they did not believe. “Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb.” (Luke 24:11-12)

What happened in the course of that weekend? What was it that caused this man who was last seen cowering and bitterly weeping over the realization that he had struck out, to now run where there would assuredly be soldiers? Three opportunities…three massive misses…and now he’s running to the tomb? What was the turning point? What was it that suddenly made Peter, a man who was once hiding, become the one who runs to see what had happened?

It was the cross and the empty tomb. The death of Jesus and His resurrection was the turning point for all of us. Three strikes? No longer a separating issue. Three outright denials? Not even that could get in the way of what Jesus had done for Peter and for us. The rules had been changed for eternity.

Sinners, no matter how awful and how persistent, would now be forgiven. People like Peter would be reinstated as children of God (John 21:15-25); and people like you and me would be freed to live in the light of the resurrection.

Have you swung and missed lately? You are forgiven. Have you stood along with the Roman soldiers spitting in the face of Jesus? You are forgiven. Have you lived a life that could be seen as denying Jesus? You are forgiven. Jesus death and resurrection was and is the turning point for you and me; and though you may have reached strike three, you’re safe.

Now…go and leave your life of sin (John 8:11); and rejoice in the cross and the empty tomb. For we are not only safe; we have been saved through the blood of Jesus. Alleluia!

Saved to serve,

Pastor Kurt