My parents, who were born in 1911, never saw the Chicago Cubs win a World Series. Last night we did. It took 108 years! Can you imagine what the world was like in 1908? World War I had not yet occurred. Henry Ford’s assembly line, the first ever, was not built until 1913. The Model T came in your choice of colors as long as you chose black. Cities were concerned about pollution. What to do with all the horse manure that daily filled their streets was a major political issue.
Last night, in the tenth inning of the seventh game, the miracle happened. After a short rain delay the Cubs put up two runs in the top of the tenth and Cleveland could only get one run in the bottom of the inning. The game was over. For almost eleven decades hope never died.
There is an interesting verse in II Peter. We read, “They will say, ‘What happened to the promise that Jesus is coming again? From before the times of our ancestors, everything has remained the same since the world was first created.’” The answer follows in verse 9. “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” Well, you say, “Everyone will not repent so that must mean He will never come.” Peter goes on to assure us the day will come. It is a matter of patience on our part. Jesus will come again the very moment when the time is right. He hates the suffering on earth and will never let it linger one extra second.
Never give up hope.
Written by Roger Bothwell on November 3, 2016
rogerbothwell.org