Three deadly sins
Three deadly sins or better yet Three strikes and you’re out!
I want to talk about failure today. I know what you’re thinking. First what a negative subject and second “I don’t need to learn about failure because I have mastered it!†We all have! We all have failed. We do not need any instructions on failing.
My title is three deadly sins or better yet three strikes and you’re out! I don’t like my title. Sins sounds so terrible and three strikes you’re out sounds so final. But it’s not final! Robert Schuler used to say “failure is not final, failure is not fatal.†You see God is the God of a second chance. He’s the God of a third chance, He’s the God of infinite chances, Failure is not final with Him, and it’s expected.
Just like baseball, life has many innings. With God, there are as many innings as it takes for you to win. He created you to win! Before we talk about the three strikes, let’s talk about the rules of the game.
The game might not even be baseball. You see you have been given a race to run. What is your race? What is your game of life? What are you called to do that no one else can do? So what is your game? What is your race? What are the rules?
The rules are the same no matter who you are and what race you are called to run. The rules are the same no matter what game you are called to play! When it comes to pitches, God never sends a curveball. He never sends a changeup!
There is no changing with God! He doesn’t want you to strike out, He wants you to hit a homerun at every bat! Every pitch he sends you is perfect for you! The only homerun I ever hit the pitch was low and outside! My perfect pitch is low and outside. I have long arms, so low and outside is perfect for me!
What is your perfect pitch? He knows? Rule number one: Every good and perfect gift cometh down from the Father of lights! Rule number two†God works all things for good for those that love Him and are called according to His purpose.
So even if you don’t receive a perfect pitch, God will work it out for your good! What was meant for evil to you, God will turn it into good. Rule number three: God does not send evil to you. Man does and so does the devil. And sometimes nature sends us bad things. Rule number four: “The sufferings of this world do not compare to the glory He has for us.†Rule number five: Death is an enemy of God.
Once we know the rules of life, we need to know the game we are called to. We need to know the race we are called to run! And we need to know the three sins or the three strikes that will keep us from winning.
Sin or strike number one: Negative self-talk. This is that little voice in your head that tells you, you can’t win. The bible says, “Think on these things…†and “don’t listen to every spirit.â€Â If you’re going to live a fulfilled life you will think positively and you will guard yourself from negative talk.
Sin or strike number two: Comparing yourself to others. Don’t compare yourself to others. You have your own race to run, not theirs! What is your race? What are you called to do that no one else can do? What are your gifts?
Sin number three or strike three: Thinking failure is final. Coach John Woods said, “If you do your best, you are a winner!†It doesn’t matter what the score board says. It matters if you did your best. You are the only one that knows if you won or lost, because you’re the only one that knows if you have done your best.
There are four fatal fears:
Fear number one; Fear of mistakes. People think that they have to be perfect. There is only one that was perfect and we killed Him when He was thirty-three. We think we have to be perfect so we can be accepted. We need to learn that we are not perfect and we can learn from our mistakes.
Fear number two: Fear of rejection. We think everyone must love us. We need to learn that our self-esteem does not depend on others. We are accepted by Him and that’s all that matters.
Fear number three: Fear of failure. We think we always have to win . We think that “you must lose for me to win.†No, no, we can create a win-win situation. You can win and so can I. I am not competing against you. I am running my own race! You can win and so can I.
Fear number four: Fear of pain: We think we always have to feel good. We need to realize that pain is temporary. This life is temporary and the life to come is much better!
No matter what you have been through, change your thinking and change your self-talk. Sin or strike number one: Negative self-talk. This is that little voice in your head that tells you, you can’t win. The bible says, “Think on these things†things that are good and pure, and “don’t listen to every spirit.â€Â If you’re going to live a fulfilled life you will think positively and you will guard yourself from negative self-talk.
Sin or strike number two: Comparing yourself to others. Don’t compare yourself to others. You have your own race to run, not theirs! What is your race? What are you called to do that no one else can do? What are your gifts?
Sin number three or strike three: Thinking failure is final. Coach John Woods said, “If you do your best, you are a winner!†It doesn’t matter what the score board says. It matters if you did your best. You are the only one that knows if you won or lose, because you’re the only one that knows if you have done your best.
If the umpire says, “Strike three!†you’re not out if you have Him!
Robert Mitchell