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From the writings of the Rev. Billy Graham

 

Dear Rev. Graham: My wife isn’t thrilled about my love for baseball but with the World Series approaching I am glued to the television. She thinks I’m making light of religion when I tell her that there are a lot of religious analogies in the game of baseball. Am I wrong? – W.S.

 

Dear W.S.: Years ago in the seventh game of the World Series, the score was tied in the last inning with two outs. The batter came to the plate and hit a home run. The crowd went wild. It’s about the most exciting thing that can happen in baseball. But when the hero crossed home plate to score, the umpire yelled, “Out!” The crowd was stunned. The umpire explained that the batter had not touched first base.

That’s the way with many people. They’re Christians outwardly – baptized, church members, tithing – but have missed the most important thing. They’ve not been born again. They haven’t touched first base.

Nicodemus was one such man who came to Jesus. Though he was deeply religious – fasting, tithing, and teaching theology – he was not satisfied. He had missed first base – salvation – and then Jesus told Him what it means to be “born again.”

Being baptized, going to church, and doing good works will not get us to Heaven. One of the saddest passages in all of Scripture is found in Matthew 7:22–23. Jesus said that many will say to Him that they have done great things in His Name, but He will have to say, “Depart from Me – I never knew you.”

Salvation in Christ means being born again. We’re all born physically, but to get to Heaven, one must be born spiritually. This is the gift of God that only He can give; and He freely gives it when we repent of our sin and come to Him with a humble heart by faith. This is truth.

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(This column is based on the words and writings of the late Rev. Billy Graham.)