There’s an old saying… “Unless you can __________________ you can’t even get to 1st base!”
Think about that saying for a minute and what it communicates… think about the imagery behind it!
What I see is a young, inexperienced child, who has never played the game of baseball. He’s at his first day of “Pee-wee baseball” and the coach is trying to help him understand what he needs to do in order to play the game. He doesn’t know how to hold the bat, he doesn’t know the rules of the game, he has no idea how fast the ball will come toward him when it is pitched… and when it comes, he swings wildly, ducking out of the way, and misses the ball completely! The coach comes over and helpfully tries to give him some instruction, but he won’t receive it! The tragedy is, he thinks he knows what to do, but he really doesn’t have a clue! The coach tries to show him how to stand, how to hold the bat, what the object of the game is all about; but he won’t listen… Finally in desperation, the coach says, “Son, if you won’t listen to me and do what I tell you do, YOU WON’T EVEN GET TO 1st BASE!”
Now, consider what the Bible says… “THE FEAR [OR REVERENCE] OF THE LORD IS THE BEGINNING OF KNOWLEDGE [OR WISDOM]! FOOLS DESPISE WISDOM AND INSTRUCTION!” (Proverbs 1:7)
It all begins right there in the “game of life!” If a person doesn’t do that, “they can’t even get to 1st base!” And yet all around us, we see individuals who tragically reject that basic beginning to successful and productive living! They refuse to acknowledge God, to honor God, or reverence God. They strike out on their own – they try to do it their way – they refuse to accept Divine instruction. They are like the inexperienced child in “Pee-wee baseball” who refuses to listen to the coach! Proverbs 1:7 says, IT IS “FOOLS WHO DESPISE WISDOM AND INSTRUCTION!”
I don’t want to be like that!!! I want to listen to God… I want to honor Him… I want to reverence and trust Him! Hey, a successful, fruitful life all begins (and continues with) that! WITHOUT “THE FEAR OF THE LORD,” I CAN’T EVEN GET TO 1st BASE!
Coffee With The Lord 