“I thought he beat the throw. I was convinced he beat the throw, until I saw the replay.” These were the humble post-game words of 54-year-old veteran umpire Jim Joyce last night, after admittedly missing a vital call, in what is certainly popular water cooler talk today for even nominal sports fans.
Last night the Detroit Tigers sent starting pitcher Armando Galarraga to the hill to face the Cleveland Indians. Up until the final inning, the 28-year-old was pitching a perfect game. A perfect game is one resulting in the other team going hitless; a feat only accomplished by 20 pitchers since Cy Young did it first in 1904.
On a routine ground ball throw to first base, Joyce called Cleveland’s Jason Donald safe. As clearly seen on replay, Donald was one step from the base – a clearly missed call. As the stadium erupted in boos, Galarraga’s perfect game came to an abrupt and controversial end. Joyce emphatically said he was wrong and later in tears hugged Galarraga and apologized. The pitcher forgave him and was very gracious.
During today’s game, in the spirit of forgiveness, Galarraga brought his team’s lineup card to Joyce who was the home-plate umpire. The two shook hands, as the Tiger fans applauded wildly. Joyce was clearly tearful by the kind gesture. Tigers manager Jim Leyland said afterward, “This is a day for Detroit to shine.”
As a communicator of biblical truths, I found this story to be one rich in metaphor; one transcending sports and simple human interest. It’s a story about how we strive for perfection, and how short we fall – sometimes due to the faults of others. It’s a story of guilt being acknowledged and confessed, setting the table for forgiveness and graciousness to be served-up almost scandalously. It’s a story of life, falleness and redemption.
Paul the apostle wrote, ‘God made him who had no sin (Jesus Christ) to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.’ (2 Corinthians 5:21). Righteousness means God’s standard for a holy life. Although we strive for perfection, we all fail miserably! We came into the game spiritually injured, unable to pitch a perfect God-pleasing life. We all desire to be good enough and acceptable to God, usually resulting in outward expressions of charity, benevolence and goodwill. In our efforts to be compatible with His holiness, we conveniently don religious masks, adopt our own code language (Christianese), and paste on the veneer of righteousness. However, no true heart change or transformation takes place. This religiosity results in pride, segregation, isolation, and an unyielding spirit – the spirit of the Pharisees – a spirit openly condemned by Jesus.
Friends, God knows you’re not perfect. Do us all a favor and take off the mask and drop the King James dialect! He knows that you came into the world with a nature that is carnal and self-seeking. He knows that no matter how hard you try to climb up his standard ladder, you’d slide down awkwardly in a heap. God knows you’re not perfect. That’s why He did all the perfect stuff for you! Before any of us were born, and destined to languish hopelessly in our separation from Him, God sent His Son Jesus Christ to do for us something we could never do for ourselves – satisfy God’s standard of justice. And according to Paul, when we personally put our trust and obedience in His completed work on the cross, we get His right-standing before God – we get His perfection – our sinfulness and incompatibility for His sinlessness and compatibility. In Christ, we get perfection. In Christ we get righteousness!
Listen.
With the help of an embarrassed umpire, Armando Galarraga missed perfection by one base runner’s step.
With the grace of God displayed through a bloody cross, you can gain perfect righteousness with one step. That one step is to do with God what Jim Joyce did with a forgiving pitcher last night – confess your guilt and say you’re sorry. God won’t forgive what we won’t own. The good news is He never turns away those who come to Him with a contrite and unmasked heart.
Why not get your name on God’s lineup card today? We’ve all blown the call. But in Jesus Christ alone, we can experience authentic restoration, His perfect rightstanding with God, and the wild applause of Heaven.
This is a day for Jesus to shine - through you.
