By Staff Writer, Matt Osborne The MLB trade deadline officially passed last night, with teams doing their usual last-minute “wheeling and dealing” in an attempt to set their team up for future success. One of the bigger surprises taking place before the deadline was ace pitcher, Max Scherzer, being traded from the Mets to the Rangers in exchange for minor league prospect, Luisangel Acuña. This was a startling move for multiple reasons. First of all, the Mets set a record for the highest payroll in MLB history this season. They were expected to shop for star talent near the trade deadline, not to sell. Additionally, Scherzer had a “no-trade clause” in his contract, giving him the right to veto any trade the Mets attempted to make if it didn't produce a desirable outcome for him. In an interview with Ken Rosenthal from The Athletic, Scherzer explained his reasoning for waiving his no-trade clause to allow the deal with the Rangers to go through. Recapping a conversation with Mets general manager, Billy Eppler, about their disappointing season and the future direction of the franchise, Scherzer said, “I was like, ‘O.K., are we reloading for 2024?’ He goes, 'No, we’re not. Basically, our vision now is for 2025-2026, ‘25 at the earliest, more like ‘26. We’re going to be making trades around that.' "I was like, ‘So the team is not going to be pursuing free agents this offseason or assemble a team that can compete for a World Series next year?’ He said, 'No, we’re not going to be signing the upper-echelon guys. We’re going to be on the smaller deals within free agency.’” Scherzer went on to explain how the Mets’ decision to focus on preparing for the future was a far cry from the approach he'd been promised when signing with the organization: “That’s a completely different vision from what everybody had in the clubhouse. All the players had a vision of, we reload for 2024. That was no longer the case … I’m not itching to jump ship. I don’t have to chase the ring. I made a three-year commitment with New York. I would honor that if we were going to try and win in 2024. But that wasn’t the case.” Scherzer's comments indicate he doesn't think the Mets delivered what they promised him. He came to New York expecting to join a team that would be in “win now” mode but found himself in the midst of a rebuilding project. In life, we, too, can fall victim to buying into false promises that don't deliver. Since the beginning of mankind, sin has been making grand promises to people and failing to deliver. In the Garden of Eden, the serpent promised Adam and Eve they would be “like God” if they simply ate the unforbidden fruit. He further promised they “would not die” upon eating it. Of course, we know that Adam and Eve’s sin against God didn't result in them becoming like God, and brought death not only upon themselves but upon all of mankind. This is a primary example of the deceitfulness of sin. It promises us happiness, life, pleasure, and freedom, but ends up delivering sorrow, pain, and bondage. All of a sudden we have a "completely different vision" and we're heading down a different path than what we signed up for. Proverbs 1 tells of sinners who attempt to entice others to join them by promising them “precious goods and plunder,” and yet, we are warned in verses 18-19 (ESV): “But these men lie in wait for their own blood; they set an ambush for their own lives. Such are the ways of everyone who is greedy for unjust gain; it takes away the life of its possessors.” In Hebrews 3:13 (NIV), we are told to “...encourage one another daily, as long as it is called ‘Today,’ so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.” Acknowledging that sin always fails to deliver upon its promises is helpful in obediently fighting against temptation. The more we recognize the lies and schemes of the enemy, the better equipped we'll be to see right through his deceitful ways and live holy lives. Matthew 4:8-10 (ESV) gives us an account of how even Jesus had to face temptation: “Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to Him, ‘All these I will give you if you will fall down and worship me.’ Then Jesus said to him, ‘Be gone, Satan! For it is written, "You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only shall you serve."’” When Satan offered Jesus a false promise, Jesus understood that His main purpose in life was not temporary happiness or pleasure, but rather doing the will of His Father. So what false promise is sin offering us today? What temptation is looming and trying to convince us that things will be better if we give in to it? Are we buying the lie that we don’t have to submit to God because we'd be better off if we were in control and did whatever we wanted to? Let's all be challenged by Jesus' example to reject the deceitfulness of sin, and choose to glorify God with our lives. I’m Matt Osborne, and you can UNPACK that! PRAYER: Heavenly Father, please help me see the deceitfulness of sin and recognize that sin can never help me accomplish my ultimate purpose in life, which is to bring You glory. May You be glorified as I walk in obedience to Your ways. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR PACKS:
1. In what ways has sin failed to deliver on its promises for you in the past? 2. How does recognizing your main purpose in life help you fight against the deceitfulness of sin?
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