A New Day

By: Pastor Johnie Akers   

Revelation 21:5, “And He that sat upon the throne said, ‘Behold, I make all things new.’” One of the all-time greats in baseball was Babe Ruth. His bat had the power of a cannon, and his record of 714 home runs remained until Hank Aaron came along. The Babe was the idol of sports fans, but in time age took its toll, and his popularity began to wane. Finally the Yankees traded him to the Braves. In one of his last games in Cincinnati, Babe Ruth began to falter. He struck out and made several misplays that allowed the Reds to score five runs in one inning. As the Babe walked toward the dugout, chin down and dejected, there rose from the stands an enormous storm of boos and catcalls. Some fans actually shook their fists. Then a wonderful thing happened. A little boy jumped over the railing, and with tears streaming down his cheeks he ran out to the great athlete. Unashamedly, he flung his arms around the Babe’s legs and held on tightly. Babe Ruth scooped him up, hugged him, and set him down again. Patting him gently on the head, he took his hand and the two of them walked off the field together. How many of us have hung our heads down in shame and defeat over the mistakes we have made. How many times have we all struck out or made more than our share of errors on the field of life. Perhaps today, like the great Babe Ruth, you look at your performance, as a husband, as a wife; as a father or mother, son or daughter, employee or citizen, or maybe even a church member or minister, and feel like you somehow could have done better, but, you didn’t. You struck out. Why? Because like Babe Ruth—like all of us—you’re only human. Today, allow God to wrap His arms of love and grace around you, and let you know, it’s not the misplays in the game of life that determine its outcome, it’s our reliance on a God, that, as our Scripture indicates today, can make “all things new.” No matter how bad you think you’ve failed, God can make it all new. So take His hand, and walk together off the field of unrealistic human expectations into the next chapter of your life where all things are made new, with each new day.