Cardinals give insight into Christian life

This article is dedicated to a group of Arbutus ladies and Lee S. who loves the Red Birds.

Let’s talk about the Cardinals. I come from a family that has followed the Cardinals for generations. I would love to have seen the 1926 team that won the first world series in seven games.

In Game 7, against the evil Yankees, they threw out Babe Ruth at second base in the ninth inning to preserve a 3-2 victory. What Cardinal fan does not love the stories of the “Gas House Gang” that featured the Dean brothers, Ducky and Pepper?

Moving forward to the 60s, I love hearing my dad talk about Stan the Man and how scary a pitcher Bob Gibson was. I am old enough to have celebrated the White Rat’s teams of the 80s that featured fast ball highlighted by the Wizard of Oz.

In recent years we have been blessed to see Cardinal legends like Waino and Molina. I was thinking how this gives us insight into the Christian life (No I won’t be comparing the Cubs to the dark side).

Matthew 6:24- “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and lovethe other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.”

There is not a middle ground with baseball and more importantly with God. You have to choose who you will love: God or something else.

Psalm 115:8 “Those who make them will be like them, and so will all who trust in them.”

This verse highlights that what you invest in you will become like. There is a certain way a Cardinal fan acts as they know everything about and are respectful towards baseball and know how to win. Other teams have their characteristics. In the same way, when someone follows God or some other thing they become like that.

Next, a real Cardinal fan is not a fair-weather fan. Even though it is not common like the Cubs, there are times in the past that the Cards have had a losing season. What is amazing is a Cardinal fan still sticks with them in losing times.

Christ is looking for true followers that will stick it out even in difficult seasons that tempt people to turn back.

Luke 9:62- “And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”

Finally, a person can choose to become part of the fan base of any team. Christ invites anyone to believe on Him for salvation.

John 6:26- ”Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.”

In conclusion, I hope you are rooting for the Cardinals, but much more importantly and critically you following Jesus Christ.

Ps. Notice I did not talk to the Royal fans about what the Bible says about stealing a World Series (just kidding)

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