Must We?

I recently read about a touching moment in sports. It took place at a women’s softball game in April 2009. Central Washington and Western Oregon faced off against each other, the winner to receive a bid to the NCAA’s Division II playoffs. Sara Tucholsky, a Western Oregon player, came to the plate in the second inning with the scored tied 0-0 and two runners on base. Sara had never hit a homerun, however, things were about to change. She connected with a pitch and hit the ball over the center field fence. Due to her excitement, she missed touching first base. She stopped, turned to go back to the base, oddly twisting her body, tearing her ACL, and collapsing to the ground. Her first base coach wanted to run out to help her, but if she touched her, she would have been counted out. As Sara lay on the ground, the umpires conferred and determined that the best thing to do was allow Western Oregon to substitute a pinch runner to first base (also cancelling her homerun). The coach prepared to make the substitution when she heard a voice, “Excuse me! Would it be okay if we carried her around the bases and she touched each bag?” In softball, a teammate can’t touch a player running the bases, but there’s no rule says the opponents can’t touch the runner. So, Mallory Holtman and Liz Wallace, two Central Washington players, offered to carry Sara around the bases so her homerun would not be counted as a single. These two players gently picked up Sara and carried her around the bases, allowing her to tap each base along the way. When asked why she did it, Mallory said, “Honestly, it’s one of those things that I hope anyone would do for me...” In other words, she was practicing the “Golden Rule”: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you (Matthew 7:9-12).

[Romans 13:1-2] In many circumstances we desire to help others in their times of need, not because we have to, but because our love for others demands action. There are also times when, because we love our self, we must take action to keep from trouble. “Right Lane MUST Turn Right.” The, “MUST”, lets the driver know that in no uncertain terms that going straight ahead in the right lane is not an option. What is it in human nature that so often chafes against the “musts” of life? Is it a prideful desire to be self-directed, answerable to none? Jesus submitted to his parents (Luke 2:41-51) and to his Father’s will (John 4:34; 5:30; 6:38). In this he models for us the humble, obedient spirit God desires in each of us. For Jesus, what was the ultimate “must”? “...he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed...” (Matthew 16:21; Luke 17:25; 24:6-7). What “musts” apply to us? “...anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him” (Hebrews 11:6). This “must” applies to far more than simply believing God exists. Most people do. But God rewards only those who seek him. “...You must be born again” (John 3:6-7). Baptism – being born of water and the Spirit is a must if we want to enter into the kingdom of God (John 3:5; Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 22:14-16; Titus 3:3-7). Then, “...we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad” (2 Corinthians 5:10). We may exercise our free will not to seek God, not to be baptized and ignore God’s will for our life, but we do not have any choice about appearing before the judgment seat of Christ. There is no escaping it. God says we MUST, and there is no eternal alternative.