What Can One Strike Do?

With just one strike a life can be destroyed, a home, a tall building, a city block, even an entire metropolis could be wiped from the face of the earth. Lives that are forever changed, scars that never fully heal, mementos and treasures forever lost, a contented life thrown into absolute turmoil.

Does one strike mean that it’s the last strike? In the game of baseball, three strikes and another player is given the next chance. What if after three strikes ‘you’ are given another chance! What if after three strikes ‘you’ are in the running for MVP (most valuable player)?! What can one strike lead to?

Simon Peter was a plain fisherman called by Jesus to join him; Peter became a new person with ambitious goals and lofty priorities. Peter didn’t become a perfect person; he became a ‘changed’ person. Jesus’ first words to Peter were, “Come after me” Mark 1, and Jesus’ last words to him were, “Follow me” John 21 What did Jesus see in this man that caused him to grant him a new name, Peter—“The Rock”!

Peter is more a composite of ‘everyman’ than any other apostle. He often rushed to judgment, was rather brash and impulsive. Few could match his enthusiasm, and fewer still could match his devotion to Jesus. What a life filled with extremes he lived. Who could forget his presence during Jesus’ trial? Peter denied three times that he even knew Jesus! This was without doubt the lowest period in Peter’s life. Any normal person would be crushed and fade into obscurity, but not Peter. He wept—bitterly, and then remembered. Peter remembered the things Jesus taught, the people Jesus forgave the lives that Jesus restored, the incredible power of forgiveness Jesus showed. Peter was forgiven, restored, and became the leader of Jesus’ disciples.

"But he [was] wounded for our transgressions, [he was] bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace [was] upon him; and with his stripes we are healed." Isaiah 53:5

What can one strike do? What can a million strikes do? It can change things. What can one carpenter’s Son do? He can change ‘lives’! I ask you again what can one strike do? If you believe and accept Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior, you can 'strike it rich', forever! Your comments are welcome. Just click on the leave your reply link just above this post. Thank you for your readership and may God bless you richly through His Son, Jesus Christ.