The Fundamentals: From inside prison walls

 by Gary J. Doby

Baseball has been honored as the “Perfect Game” and as “America’s Pastime. ” The ideal distances of 60′ 6″ from the rubber to the plate and 90′ baselines are just right. Three out at-bats and four ball, three strike counts at the plate move the game accordingly. The prescribed rules maintain order and form.

Yet those with a frue understanding of the game recognize certain “fundamentals” and how to best execute them, fundamentals that bring aesthetic satisfaction and victory to the team that performs. The timing and surprise of the “suicide squeeze ” make it the most exciting play in baseball. And following the basic tenet “Never make the last out at third base” can be the difference between victory and defeat.

After nine innings and 54 outs, however, it’s over for the day. The teams go on to pray another day. Yogi Berra famously pronounced: “It ain’t over ’til it’s over. ” Yet, in baseball, there’s always another game or another team.

Life, however, is not a mere “game. ” We are given, blessed with, a limited number of days to live and “once to die, but after this the judgment” (Hebrews 10:27). There are no double-headers, not 154 game schedules and no one has the promise of a tomorrow: “For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away” (James 4:14).

GOD has blessed us in HIS WORD with basic rules and fundamentals to assure us of “Victory in JESUS. ” The commands are clearly given in Exodus 20 and in the WORDS of CHRIST throughout HIS ministry.

CHRIST made the “rules ” clear and established several fundamentals necessary for salvation, victory over the grave. When HE commanded (John 3:7) “Ye must be born again, ” HE revealed to Nicodemus a basic tenet of CHRISTIANITY.

The means to the re-birth are certain. Every person must accept the fact that “All have sinned, and come short of the glory of GOD” (Romans 3:23) and that “The wages of sin is death; but the gift of GOD is eternal life through JESUS CHRIST our LORD ” (Romans 6:23).

CHRIST has guaranteed that Satan and sin cannot defeat us. Peter stated, “He that believeth on HIM shall not be confounded” (I Peter 3:6). JESUS said that 1—IE came so that “Whosoever believeth on HIM should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). Yet HE warned in John 3:18: “He that believeth not is condemned already.

Life is a gift, not a game. But there are fundamentals and rules for living. To “lose” is eternal damnation and separation from GOD.  CHRIST has already provided our victory. Just believe, accept GOD’s grace, and be saved. Where are you today?

“He that believeth on the SON hath everlasting life; and he that believeth not the SON -shall not see life;