God's Coaching #273

God's Coaching #273

He was the Sultan of Swat. The Colossus of Clout. The Great Bambino. Sportswriters showered him with nicknames. Hollywood made movies about him. He was the one and only Babe Ruth. In 1927, the New York Yankees’ iconic slugger was at the height of his powers. He was the greatest hitter in baseball, and the Yankees were the sport’s crème de la crème—the best of the best. On September 30, 1927, Babe did the unimaginable in a 4–2 win over the Washington Senators: he blasted his 60th home run of the season. Before that, no one other than Babe had ever hit more than 42 homers in a season. Babe’s marvelous record stood another 34 years until another Yankee, Roger Maris, hit 61 in 1961.

For two decades, Babe seemed larger than life. The Hall of Famer enjoyed a dazzling career with 714 home runs, 2,213 RBIs, and a .342 batting average. And then—poof!—just like that, he was done. Because of age and failing health, his skills rapidly declined in the 1930s. By 1935, the Yankees released him. Babe signed with the Boston Braves but hit a sickly .181 in his first 28 games and retired two months into the season. He died in 1948 from complications with cancer. He was only 53.

What’s the Score?

Babe Ruth’s story is a sobering reminder of human weakness. Even the greatest athletes will eventually grow old and die. David describes humans as nothing more than “a breath” (Psalm 39:5) and “a passing shadow” (Psalm 144:4). Isaiah calls us withering grass and fading flowers (Isaiah 40:6-8).

This should provide a needed reality check to our sinful pride: we are not in charge of our lives. We are small and powerless without God. We can’t even control how long we live. We rely on God for everything—even the air we breathe. David considered all these things in Psalm 39 and said, “And so, Lord, where do I put my hope? My only hope is in you” (verse 7). God is our hope too!

On the Ball

With a parent’s permission, pick some grass and flowers from your yard. Store them without water in your house for a week, and see how much they wither. Let this activity remind you how much you rely on God for strength, health, and life.

Coach’s Comment

LORD, remind me how brief my time on earth will be. Remind me that my days are numbered—how fleeting my life is. You have made my life no longer than the width of my hand. My entire lifetime is just a moment to you; at best, each of us is but a breath. Psalm 39:4-5