Almost fifteen years ago with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning, Sid Bream, arguably the slowest member of the Atlanta Braves, stood on second base with his team trailing the Pittsburg Pirates by one run. This was the seventh and deciding game of the National League Championship Series. Terry Pendleton had just scored to cut the Pirate lead to 2-1 and David Justice stood on third. With only ten at-bats the entire season, third-string catcher Francisco Cabrera came to the plate with the bases loaded. He hit a single and leftfielder Barry Bonds, then a Pirate, fielded the ball and threw it to the plate. In what seemed like a slow motion movie, Sid Bream, running as fast as his legs would carry him, slid under the tag. The stadium erupted as the Braves won and went to the World Series. (Oh for the days…)
Last year, our daughter, Kinsey, played on the same softball team as Stephanie Pendleton, one of Terry’s children. At a game last fall I asked Terry about Sid Bream. Back in 1992, our son Taylor, just a six-year-old, was given a baseball signed by all the Braves and I noticed Sid Bream wrote “Rom 5:8″ underneath his signature. This Scripture says: “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” “Was Sid Bream a strong Christian?” I asked. Terry, now a coach for the Braves, gave the strongest confirmation one could imagine. “Everyone in baseball knew of Sid’s commitment to Jesus. He not only talked about the Lord, he lived his faith. Sid Bream was the real deal.” Terry went on to share specific stories that demonstrated how Sid let the Light of Christ shine in his life on the ball field and beyond.
I knew about Sid Bream from watching him play and reading about him in the news. I felt sure he was a Christian, but Terry Pendleton could go a step further; he knew him. Sid was his teammate. Terry played third base while Sid played first. Terry traveled with him, ate with him, and hung out with him. Terry saw how Sid reacted in every day situations when the cameras were not rolling and no fans were around. Knowing a person is a little different than knowing about a person.
The apostles used such arguments (with other proofs) to share that Jesus really was the Messiah. “We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For he received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, ‘This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.’ We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain. And we have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.” (II Peter 1:16-19)
To know God… to know Jesus… this is what it is all about. God wants us to know him and he invites us to pursue him. Though he knew it might cost him everything, Paul wanted to know Christ. (See Phil 3:7-16) People throughout the ages have found this to be the only quest that really matters. Jesus called it eternal life… and he is still at work.
“Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. Now this is eternal life: that they may know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent… Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.” (John 17:1-3, 25-26)