God's Coaching #117

God's Coaching #117

Chugga-chugga, chugga-chugga, choo-choo! Batters beware—here comes the Ryan Express! On this day in 1983, Houston Astros right-hander Nolan Ryan, nicknamed the Ryan Express for his blazing fastballs, became Major League Baseball’s all-time strikeout king with 3,509. A five-strikeout performance against the Montreal Expos was all Nolan needed to surpass Washington Senators great Walter Johnson.

After the historic pitch, Nolan’s teammates rushed to the mound to celebrate with him. The baseball that Nolan used for the record-breaking whiff was sent to the Hall of Fame. But Ryan wasn’t done. Not by a long shot. The Ryan Express kept chugging along for 10 more seasons and 2,205 strikeouts. The eight-time All-Star finished his Hall of Fame career in 1993 with 324 wins, a record 5,714 strikeouts, and seven no-hitters. Even at an age when most pitchers break down, Nolan was marvelous. He led the league in strikeouts four times while in his 40s, fanned 203 batters when he was 44, and finally retired at age 46, after a record-tying 27 major-league seasons. Wow!

What’s the Score?

Plenty of good pitchers entered the major leagues in the early 1990s as Nolan’s career was winding down. But even in his 40s, he was still as powerful as any of them. As opposing hitters found out, newer is not always better. That is certainly true with Christianity. For 2,000 years people have looked for ways to improve the gospel message. But that’s impossible. You don’t need a new model when there’s nothing wrong with the original.

The gospel—that is, the Good News of salvation from our sins through faith in Jesus—is a simple yet powerful message. It cannot be improved upon. The writers of the New Testament knew this and defended the gospel against all sorts of false doctrines in the first century AD. In fact, the apostle Paul said anyone who supports an untrue gospel will be “under God’s curse” (Galatians 1:8, NIV). Avoid anything, or anyone, who seems to be promoting a better or more current version of Christianity. There’s nothing wrong with God’s original plan of salvation. The amazing gospel of Jesus is just as relevant and true today as it was 2,000 years ago.

How do we know? Because God’s Word says so.

On the Ball

Pray to God for wisdom and discernment to follow the one true gospel of the Bible.

Coach’s Comment

Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God’s curse! Galatians 1:7-8 (NIV)