Bring Them Home

One Way Home was started on the idea that there is only one way home - in baseball and in life. If you have supported us along the way you may have got a shirt with a note inside that talks about starting a conversation. Or maybe if you are one of those people who like to read the “About” page of this blog you would find that same thought. But why is One Way Home important? Because like I talk about in baseball and life, there is only one way to do that but more importantly. Only one thing you can bring with you.

Over the weekend at my church, my favorite pastor was giving his sermon. For those of you that go to Parkview in this area, or maybe watch online. I love listening to Todd Clark. I love his energy and the ways that he describes things. But one thing I love about his messages are the simple reminders that really hit home (yes baseball puns). This weekend we were going through a sermon series called “Get Hell Out Of Here” and he talked about something rather thought-provoking. He focuses on the idea “5min After You Die”, and what is it going to be like when that time evidently comes for all of us.

Now I do not want to necessarily focus on that title. But rather I want to focus on a very important reminder that hits exactly what this blog is about. A quick baseball reference for those of you that may not know, but an RBI or Run Batted In is a stat you get when you hit the ball and bring in one of your teammates on base to score.

So why is that focus on an RBI important to us as Christians but also for this blog that heavily involves the baseball family? Because there is a story in the Bible in Luke 16 that talks about a rich man and poor man and Heaven and hell. Now to sum it up in a very short context, the rich man is in hell separated from God. He is there not because he is rich, but rather there because of the lack of help to those right outside his gates. He was self-focused and did not care to help those in need. But while he is in hell he cries out in agony (Luke 16:27-28) to save his five brothers, to give them a change of heart and warn them so they will not go to this place of torment.

Now I know that is a lot to take in. Heaven and hell, things that bring agony and suffering and torment. But here is what I want this message to focus on. Like in the story, the riches of this world do not keep you out of heaven nor do they get you into heaven. What matters most in our life is to bring ourselves and people to Christ. Like in baseball, to bring a run across the plate and score, someone has to help them score. Someone has to swing the bat and put the ball in play to bring your teammates home. In our faith, the only thing we can bring to heaven when we die is other people. Not the house we live in, not the car we drive, not the shoes, or clothes, or anything else you can think of. Nope, none of it goes with you except - people. People need to be brought home. People need to find that one way home.

Have you accepted Jesus into your life as your Lord and Savior?

What blessing can you be to someone else to help bring them home?

Like Pastor Todd talks about - changing your eternal zip code.

My prayer for you this week is that you feel the presence of God within your life. That you find that peace knowing that you are where you are because Christ has you there. And that you know by Him you have been saved so you can spend eternity with Him in paradise. That you know it’s not by anything you have or have done to get you into Heaven, but rather by accepting Him into your life. And when you accept Him into your life, I pray you to have conversations with other people to help Bring Them Home too.