Not accomplishments. Acknowledgement.

Yesterday was the passing of Pete Rose into eternity.  There are many conflicting views about Pete Rose the man, but really only one view of Charlie Hustle when he stepped between the white lines of a baseball diamond. You could count on the fact that you would get every bit of effort and energy he had in order to win the ball game.  His relentless pursuit of winning, at all costs, endeared him to most.  His pursuit of the record book, notably the all-time hit record previously held by Ty Cobb, was unerring.  There were more talented players, but there was no one in his class when it came to effort.  

I grew up “rooting for the Reds” in the 70’s and listening to the radio as often as possible to hear Joe Nuxhall say, “And this one belongs to the Reds,” which happened far more often then than now.  I remember watching Pete work the pitcher for a walk, then run to first base.  So those few times I walked in a game, I ran to first base.  He threw his body with seeming abandonment in stealing or taking an extra base, so I did the same (only not head-first).  As I watched Rose play through the years, then encounter gambling and legal troubles, he was always hard charging, taking no prisoners in confronting whatever was before him.  Yet, yesterday when I heard that he had passed away, my first thought was, where will he spend eternity?  

Pete’s personality and hard-charging attitude will not alter the justice and judgment of God.  And it won’t for any of us either.  For all the awards, accolades, records and fan adulation Pete Rose amassed, the question of eternity is answered by one thing.  What did Pete do with Jesus Christ?  Did he believe Him and trust in Him or was life more about living his life now with Jesus?  It is the same question for every man, woman, boy and girl: what have they done with Jesus.  It is not any accomplishment we can attain, but an acknowledgement of our need and a surrender of our will to Jesus that determines eternity.  My prayer is that somewhere in his life, Pete (and you) met Jesus and acknowledged and asked Him to be your Savior.  I will always have those memories of Pete Rose, but greater still would be to meet him in the presence of the Savior, as brothers in Christ.

Pressing On…

Ron Tipton, Senior Pastor