Home runs are one of the most fun things to see in sports. New York Yankees star, Aaron Judge, is creating a lot of excitement as he sits at 60 home runs on the season – two short of breaking Roger Maris’ record of 61.

Last night, in the bottom of the ninth inning with the score tied at 4-4 against the Red Sox, Judge crushed the ball as it came off the bat at 113 MPH and was the hardest hit ball of the night.

The ball appeared to be sailing out of the park with all that speed and the crowd was filled with cheers and joy until Red Sox centerfielder, Kike’ Hernandez, caught it. Judge didn’t quite have enough juice on the ball to get it over the wall.

Meanwhile, St. Louis Cardinals legend, Albert Pujols, is two home runs shy from joining the illustrious 700-homer club. Last night he blasted one to left field, which was believed to be gone before the ball died and was snagged on the warning track.

There was one other ball hit yesterday that was close but didn’t quite make it out of the park. Chris Branch from The Athletic explains, “Memphis Redbirds infielder Delvin Pérez suffered the most brutal fate, as he thought he had a surefire bomb off the bat Thursday night against the Gwinnett Stripers. He put his head down and started his victorious trot around the bases, completely unaware that the ball fell harmlessly into the left fielder’s glove on the track.”

All three of these batters initially believed they had a home run, but the ball was either quickly snatched, caught up in the wind, or just didn’t have enough to hang on as long as it needed to.

As we unpack these home runs that stopped short from making it over the wall, let’s take a look at the parable Jesus tells us in Luke 8:5-8 (NLT):

“’A farmer went out to plant his seed. As he scattered it across his field, some seed fell on a footpath, where it was stepped on, and the birds ate it. Other seed fell among rocks. It began to grow, but the plant soon wilted and died for lack of moisture.

“‘Other seed fell among thorns that grew up with it and choked out the tender plants. Still other seed fell on fertile soil. This seed grew and produced a crop that was a hundred times as much as had been planted!’ When He had said this, He called out, ‘Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.’”

Jesus goes on to explain in verses 11-15, “’This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is God’s Word. The seeds that fell on the footpath represent those who hear the message, only to have the devil come and take it away from their hearts and prevent them from believing and being saved.

“‘The seeds on the rocky soil represent those who hear the message and receive it with joy. But since they don’t have deep roots, they believe for a while, then they fall away when they face temptation.

“‘The seeds that fell among the thorns represent those who hear the message, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the cares and riches and pleasures of this life. And so they never grow into maturity.

“‘And the seeds that fell on the good soil represent honest, good-hearted people who hear God’s word, cling to it, and patiently produce a huge harvest.’”

As we hear God’s Word, we need to be like the “good soil” or the “batter who hits it all the way out of the park.”

By cultivating the Gospel in our lives, our roots should go down deep, and not let the message be crowded out by the cares, riches, and pleasures of this life. We must be aware when “the ball is falling into the left fielder’s glove on the track.”

Today, let’s cling to God’s Word, grow into maturity, and trust God to give us the power to “hit the ball” hard enough…and the strength we need to last “past the warning track” and all the way “home.”

Let’s be reminded of these encouraging words in Ephesians 6:10 (AMP): “In conclusion, be strong in the Lord [draw your strength from Him and be empowered through your union with Him] and in the power of His [boundless] might.”

I’m Bryce Johnson and you can UNPACK that!

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank you for giving me ears to hear Your Word and I pray I’d allow it to go down deep into my heart. Please give me Your strength and power to endure and finish strong and not let anything get in the way of a vibrant relationship with You. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.