Some of you have never heard of Don Larsen, but he was well known in the 1950s. In the fifth game of the 1956 World Series he pitched a “perfect game” to beat the Brooklyn Dodgers. He allowed no hits, no runs, and no batter even got to first base, the first post-season “perfect game”.
His feat had not been mentioned in years until last week when a Detroit Tiger pitcher came within one batter of having his own perfect game. The umpire called a runner “safe”, though a photograph indicated he was “out”. That “blown call” by the umpire – proved by the picture – was not changed, and pitcher Armondo Galarraga lost his chance at a ball player’s dream.
The umpire wept over his mistake, realizing and admitting his own “error,” but the Baseball Commissioner reported that there was no authority within Baseball rules for him to correct the incident in favor of the young pitcher. The newspapers called it the “imperfect perfect”.
It was certainly not the first time umpires had made mistakes. I can tell you a story or two about that, but whether in Baseball or in our daily walk before God, no one can truthfully claim perfection for himself or herself. Mistakes are made; deeds that should be done are left undone. Deeds that should never be done are seen often, and the Bible calls some of them “sin.” No one today is perfect; it says so in the Bible: “…all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God,” Romans 3:23. Only one man, Jesus Christ, lived without sin, 1 Peter 2:20-24, but we do not.
Should we change God’s rules to make things easier? As noted before, there was no way within the rules of Baseball that the mistake could be corrected. Nothing could be done to give Armondo his perfect game. Baseball umpires and players make mistakes. In professional Football, they have an “instant-replay-procedure” by which mistakes can be corrected, and it has become a favorite subject of discussion among analysts on the networks. The very nature of Baseball, it is believed by many, is not conducive to the use instant replay. That umpire had to make an instant decision, and he made a mistake.
Baseball “purists” want to let Baseball be what it has always been, respecting the game as it was originally defined. They would be the first to say “no” to re-writing the rules. Those who respect God’s authority and His word, say we do not have authority to “change the rules” because someone made a mistake in reading the Bible. When God made us, He gave us “rules” by which we should govern our life. We were given “free will,” as we often call it. We realize that this gift allows us to guide our lives by our own choices, but to please God we must respect and follow His way, not our own. His word is for our own good, by which we should live and by which we will eventually be “judged”, John 5:28-29, Revelation 20:12, but each person makes his own decisions. Like the Baseball Commissioner, man has not the authority, to “change the rules.” Some say, “lighten up – this new way will be better.” But will it? Is man’s way better than God’s way? No – how can anyone believe that?
When the prophet Samuel was sent to the house of Jesse to declare a successor to King Saul, 1 Samuel 16:7, God told Samuel:
“Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord sees not as man sees; for man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”
This brings a different principle to the situation, for a Baseball umpire is not able to know the “heart” of the pitcher or the runner. Even if he did, it would not change whether or not the runner beat the throw. One’s heart is not a factor in the umpire’s decision, but in regard to God’s judgment of man, both “deed” and “heart” are considered. Some deeds are absolute and the intentions of our hearts may not alter how God judges us. But God makes it possible for us to “repent” and receive forgiveness for our sins, Acts 2:38, and that demands a change of “mind” and of “action”, which is what you would expect of a God of love and justice.
Tough luck for that young pitcher, but luck will not be a factor for those who refuse bring
their will into harmony with
God’s will.
