As we try to patiently wait with hope that the baseball season will resume at the end of the month, let's look back at one of the great stories from last year's World Series: Nationals left fielder, Juan Soto, burst onto the scene at age 20 and his debut in the World Series included 3 for 4 from the plate with a homer, a double, and a stolen base. Soto is one of four players to hit a home run in the World Series before turning 21. He hit it off Astros ace, Gerrit Cole, who is considered one of the best pitchers in baseball. Alden Gonzalez wrote an interesting article on ESPN.com exploring part of Soto’s remarkable rise to becoming an MLB star. This is what jumped out to me the most: “Soto arrived at the Nationals’ Double-A affiliate in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, on May 10 <2018>. The clubhouse was overrun, and one of the catchers was forced to share half his locker with Soto. “‘Don’t worry,’ Soto told him, ‘I won’t be here long. This isn’t my league.’ Eleven days later, he made his first start for the Washington Nationals after being called up to the majors and homered in his first at-bat. During his first 16 games of his rookie season, Soto batted .346. Now this season, he’s a key reason the Nationals are in the World Series and leading the series 1-0. I love Soto’s response while playing Double-A: “Don’t worry, I won’t be here long. This isn’t my league.” It may come across as being cocky, but I appreciate his mindset of being focused on the majors. He wasn’t going to get caught up worrying about petty things like sharing a locker in Double-A but was preparing for the next level by setting his hope on the big league. As followers of Jesus, there is a great parallel to the mindset we should operate with each day. This life here on earth is temporary, so when challenges, annoyances, and problems arise we can respond by saying, “Don’t worry, I won’t be here long. This isn’t my league.” Of course, we want to take our time on earth seriously and leave a lasting impact, but our hope is in Jesus and our eternal destination with Him. Philippians 3:20 (AMP) says, “But our citizenship is in heaven. And from there we eagerly await the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.” Soto still produced in the minors, but he wasn’t looking to get comfortable in Double-A because he knew he was on a mission to Major League Baseball. Likewise, we still want to produce fruit as we prepare for heaven, but our motives and mission are based on eternity. Colossians 3:2 (NIV) encourages us to “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” When we surrender our lives to Jesus and receive the salvation He offers, we can be confident in knowing this life isn’t all there is. Jesus has called us up to the “majors,” so we don’t have to worry because we won’t be here long. “Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 1:13; ESV). I’m Bryce Johnson and you can UNPACK that! PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank you for making a way for me to spend eternity with You. I pray my focus and hope would be rooted in eternal things. Use me for Your glory and help me not to worry about what’s temporary. I pray this in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Discussion Questions for PACKS:
What does it look like to have an eternal perspective and eternal hope while here on earth?
What steals your focus and causes you to worry the most each day?
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