It ain't over until it's over
Wednesday 25th June
Yogi Berra the well known baseball figure is quoted as having said ”It ain’t over till its over.”
This may seem so true and so simple that it does not need to be said, yet we know in sports many fans leave the stadium when they think it’s ”all over” only to find that the outcome of the game was not as they expected. Games, even series games, have been down to the last out, the last strike, the last 30 seconds on the clock when the lead suddenly changed and those who were considered defeated, were victorious. A few years ago the winning touchdown was scored by running between the members of the band who had already assembled on the field to play the victory march they never played.
This same saying can also be applied to many things other than sports. Businessmen who have persevered have often snatched victory out of the jaws of defeat.
We are concerned with the spiritual application of this same principle. In Ezekiel, God goes ta great lengths to explain that ”when the righteous turneth from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, he shall even die thereby. But if the wicked turn from his wickedness, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall live thereby.”
God’s ways are just and equal and it isn’t over until it’s over. There is still time for us to repent and turn to God and be forgiven for whatever we may have done. God will then look upon us with favor, having forgiven our sins and cast them behind His back. This should encourage us to get up and try again for as Solomon tells us, ”a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again.” When it is all over he is up again. The wicked, however, fall and stay down and when it’s over, they are flat on their back.
This is the reason for us to keep on keeping on, for us to get up and try again, for us to endure to the end for as Jesus tells us, ”he that endureth to the end shall be saved.”
How sad to have been in the truth for many years and then give up and fall away just prior to the coming of the Lord. But how wonderful to have been lost, and then turn to the Lord just prior to his return and receive his approval.
It isn’t over till it’s over, our race is not complete until we draw our last breath or the Lord returns to call us to him. If we are not winning now, it is not too late to change. If we are in the lead, this is no time to slack up and rest upon our laurels. It isn’t over till its over and so the lesson for us to remember is to occupy until he comes, to fight the good fight of faith, to finish the course, to keep the faith for the crown of righteousness that is laid up for us can be won or lost in the eleventh hour. This is not because God is not willing to give it to us; He is not willing that any should perish, but we can by our own apathy, forfeit the very crown that God wants us to have.
How sad it is to see people retire from the Truth, to see some lose their first love, to watch the cares of this world spring up and choke others, to observe those who endure for a while, but when tribulation or persecution arise, by and by they are offended and drift away.
Jesus spoke to his seven ecclesias for he knew the hearts of every one of them and to some he said. ”I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead. Be watchful and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God. Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard and hold fast, and repent.” ”He that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations.”