Ephesians 1:7 (New International Version)
In him we have redemption through his blood, the
forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace.
Throughout baseball's long history, several baseball
players have made terrible mistakes or errors that cost their team dearly. In
September of 1908, Giants player Fred Merkle committed what author Noel Hynd
calls "baseball's most famous lapse." Dave Anderson says it has
"endured for nearly a century as baseball's most controversial moment in
baseball's most controversial pennant race."
It happened in the ninth inning of a Giants vs. Cubs
game. The Giants came to bat with a chance to win. There were only three weeks
left in the season and a win against the Cubs would put the Giants back in
first place. There were two outs, with a runner on third and Fred Merkle on
first.
Al Bridwell stepped up to the plate and hit a line drive
into right center. The runner on third crossed the plate with the winning run
but Merkle, instead of touching second, turned and ran quickly back to the
clubhouse to avoid the oncoming crowd. The game was over, or so he and everyone
else thought......
A Cubs player noticed that Merkle had not touched second,
took a ball to second base and called it to the umpire's attention. Later that
night, the umpire ruled that Merkle was out and the next morning the National
League allowed the ruling, saying the game had ended in a 1-1 TIE.
In the press, Fred Merkle was blasted! Merkle retired
after the 1926 season and he retreated to the seclusion of Florida . Fred
Merkle spent his remaining days in Daytona Beach . He became ill and passed
away on March 2nd, 1956. Some years earlier, he had given an interview. In the
back of a tackle shop, he told the reporter, "I suppose when I die,
they'll put on my tombstone, 'Here Lies Bonehead Merkle.'"
The world can be an unforgiving place. Make a mistake and
you may NEVER hear the end of it. Make a BIG enough mistake, and it can ruin
your life and label you forever as a goof, a loser, or even a bonehead.
Thank goodness God doesn't work that way! He sent His Son
to die on a cross so that you can be forgiven of your sins, so that you can be
redeemed through the blood spilt on the cross, so that you can enjoy the
richness of God's grace. *
Dear Lord we thank You that the label we can wear because
of You is “Saved” Help us today to share that great message with those around
us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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