November 21, 2011
It Ain’t Over ‘Til It’s Over
Ninth inning, two outs, and two strikes—one more strike and the Texas Rangers would have become the World Series champions. I’m not a sports fan by any means, but I will occasionally watch the World Series. Even though I couldn’t watch much this year, I happened to flip through and see the pitch that could have been the winning throw. Instead, the Cardinal batter hit a home run putting them into a tenth inning, resulting with the Cardinal’s winning. This made it necessary for a seventh game also won by the Cardinal’s making them the 2011 World Series champions. I imagine when that ‘supposedly’ final pitch was thrown, some Rangers were already celebrating. I’m sure some Cardinals were already feeling defeat. Yet, there had to be others who remembered Yogi Berra’s quote, “It ain’t over ’til it’s over.”
What a lesson for Christians! How many times have we been down to the last strike towards defeat? Then, we allowed God to bat for us, and He hits a home run, putting us back in the game. During our third year at Bible College, my wife and I were facing a dead-end wall. We could not see any way forward. I told the LORD one afternoon, “It’s over, there’s nothing else I can do. I can’t take another step forward.” Then the Holy Spirit, in His still small voice spoke to my heart, “Get up tomorrow, and take one more step—just one more.” I woke up still full of defeat, but I did as the Spirit had directed me. When I stepped toward that dead-end wall, it was suddenly gone. All I could see was a clear path ahead of us. We ended that day in victory. I learned even with God, “it ain’t over ’til it’s over.”
Satan loves when Christians accept defeat. God loves when He can step in and bring us victory and bring glory to Himself. It seems that even Paul had accepted defeat on his journey to Rome. Luke records, Since neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small storm was assailing us, from then on all hope of our being saved was gradually abandoned (Acts 27:20). Then the LORD took the bat and hit a home run. All were saved; Paul went on to Rome, and then continued preaching the Gospel around the world.
A saying I often quote to myself—losing one battle doesn’t mean you’ve lost the war. The Cardinals actually lost 72 games this year, but won the championship. When you’re facing a dead-end wall, already feeling defeat, remember why you held on for so long in the first place. If God directed you to where you are, then He certainly doesn’t intend for you to quit or turn back.
I read an awesome testimony this week from Steve Hill, the evangelist for the five year revival at Brownsville in Pensacola, Fla.
“I’ve been through the toughest year of my life,” Hill told Charisma News. “I’ve been in a wheelchair for many months. Last June, the doctors gave me three days to live. Funeral arrangements were being made. Hospice was at my house for six months waiting for me to die from this cancer. Sorry Charlie … not today. I plan on living many more years—at least Hezekiah’s 15 extra years. Jesus heals.” (charismanews.com)
Note, this was in June—six months ago. For Steve it was the ninth inning, two outs, and two strikes, but God took the bat.
Sustaining Word for the Week:
Are you still breathing?—well, it ain’t over!