I was shaking with nervousness as I walked up to the batter’s box with the bases loaded and my teammates screaming encouragement behind me. The pitcher wound up and fired the ball towards the plate. It came so fast I didn’t have time to react. The umpire raised his hand and yelled, “Strike one!”
The other team cheered as my teammates groaned. I was eight years old and it was my first at bat in our opening game in Little League. I didn’t want to strike out in front of all the fans and let my teammates down.
I started to swing as soon as the pitcher let go of the second pitch. It was high and outside, but my bat made solid contact. The ball went over the first baseman’s head and bounced into a bush along the right field foul line. I began to race around the bases in a blur of excitement. The right fielder had trouble getting the ball out of the bush. By the time he recovered it, I was rounding third base. I was mobbed by my teammates as I crossed the plate for a grand slam.
The following week, my name was in the front page article of the Terra Linda News. The circulation of our local community paper was probably about 200, but I had a taste of glory from that article that motivated my athletic career for years to come.
Years later, after our varsity teams won football games at Terra Linda High School, I enjoyed free slices of Shakey’s Pizza in Terra Linda. However, the one game we lost our senior year did more to change my life than winning the championship of our league. Students pulled away from me after our loss. I had stepped out of bounds for a safety on a punt which gave Drake High the margin of victory over TL High. After the game, nobody offered me encouragement or pizza. That night I left Shakey’s determined to find relationships that were deeper than wins and losses.
I was visiting with Ben Burt in San Anselmo a few years ago. Ben let me hold the Oscars he has won for sound effects in Star Wars and Raiders of the Lost Ark. These trophies are the most coveted awards in Hollywood. They represent years of hard work and outstanding innovation. They have opened doors for Ben’s career and enabled him to impact many people. However, Ben has another kind of glory that surpasses the glory of an Oscar. He has the presence of Christ within him. He is a faithful husband, father and grandfather who has eternal life.
I was recently saddened to read about another major Christian leader who had to resign because of moral failure. This man led a movement of churches with thousands of people. He had money, buildings, fame and attention. Yet, these riches were not enough to fulfill him. That should be a warning for all of us. Contentment with God does not come because of the size of your church, your company or your bank accounts. Even though I have never had that kind of success, I understand the drive to try to do more and more for the Lord. I also understand what it is like to lose your health doing too much ministry.
In contrast, I have recently officiated memorial services for Richard Ensminger and Wayne McKellips. Both of these men served the Lord for over thirty years. They were both faithful to their wives for over fifty years, served the church and loved their families deeply. They bore fruit for Christ and impacted those they worked with through their words and deeds.
These men had seen the glory of God and were content to serve Jesus without much public recognition or applause. They finished their lives well and will be rewarded with eternal glory.
A few memories remain, but the trophies I treasured as a boy are long gone. I’m grateful for those experiences, but even more thankful to be able to live for a greater glory.
On earth we are given glimpses of God’s glory through the Holy Spirit. Sometimes we see the glory of Christ in the face of someone who loves him. We also receive visions and dreams inspired by the Spirit. How we pursue God’s glory and fulfill His purposes on earth will determine the reward we experience in heaven. Nobody will be holding money or possessions when we stand before the Lord. We will have a reward for what we have done and what we have given away, but we will receive nothing for our pursuit of pleasure, or what we still possess when our days on earth are over.
There is always a war, crime, or maleficence to be upset about. We all have personal trials as well. However, God is good and He is always at work. He draws people to Himself by revealing His glory. The Lord’s glory is eternal, powerful and full of love. It does not fade with time. One way to experience God’s glory is to apply Psalm 24:7-10:
Lift up your heads, you gates; be lifted up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. Who is this King of glory?
The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle.
Lift up your heads, you gates; lift them up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. Who is he, this King of glory?
The Lord Almighty—he is the King of glory.