Getting On The Train

Getting on the train

Do you remember Nolan Ryan?  He played with four different teams throughout a four decade career.  He was one of the first pitchers to throw a ball over 100mph.  There is some controversy of whether he actually threw 108 mph on his fastball because they didn't have the same technology in 1974 that they have now.  Point is, if he were throwing to his son or daughter, how would he do that?  Would he wind up and smoke one over the plate?  Nope.  What about an overhand throw?  Nope.  He would start, the same way we all would start, with a slow underhanded pitch to make sure that his child was able to catch the ball without becoming afraid of it.  What Ryan knows, is what we all know, using all of our skills and talents and then combining it with our experience means that we can overwhelm someone and cause them to shut down, fear the information or the talent, skill or capacity, and never have an opportunity to develop the experience to move forward and get on the train of whatever we are teaching.   

Jesus knew that too.  He knew that if He came to earth with all of His power, authority, and capacity, we would never be able to catch His Kingdom, to step onto the train of forgiveness and grace He offered.   So He set aside His power, all of it, and humbled Himself to become equal to us.  To walk with us through taking the first step of getting on the train.  He knew otherwise we wouldn't understand, become overwhelmed and miss out on the greatest gift ever given to humanity, forgiveness and grace. 

God wants us all on the train of grace and forgiveness.  He provided the way for it to happen.  We don't need a theology degree, or years of research to know, "Jesus loves me," or, that He came to pay the price for my sin so I could spend eternity in heaven with God.  Get on the train Christian.  Step onto the train of grace and forgiveness and bring as many with you as you can. You don't have to be perfect before you toss out the ball.   Take the grace and forgiveness you received and give it to as many people as you can find and explain why.  Your life here and in eternity will never be the same.  #LetLifeWin in giving the grace and forgiveness you have received to others.  (Original idea from Robb Beirbaum, Associate Pastor at New Life New Mexico sermon)