Bob and the Lord stood by to observe a baseball game. The
Lord's team was playing Satan's team.
The Lord's team was at bat, the
score was tied zero to zero,
and it was the bottom of the 9th inning
with two outs.
They continued to watch as a batter stepped up to the plate whose name
was Love.
Love swung at the first pitch and hit a single, because Love never
fails.
The next batter was named Faith, who also got a single because
Faith works with Love.
The next batter up was named Godly Wisdom. Satan wound up and threw the
first pitch; Godly Wisdom
looked it over and let it pass, because Godly
Wisdom does not swing at Satan's pitches. Ball one. Three more pitches
and Godly Wisdom walked,
because Godly wisdom never swings at Satan's
throws. The bases were loaded. The Lord then turned to Bob and told him
He was now going to bring in His star player.
Up to the plate stepped Grace. Bob said he sure did not look like much!
Satan's whole team relaxed when they saw Grace.
Thinking he had won the
game, Satan wound up and fired his first pitch. To the shock of
everyone, Grace hit the ball harder than anyone had ever seen.
But Satan was not worried; his center fielder, the Prince of the air,
let very few get by.
He went up for the ball, but it went right through
his glove, hit him on the head and sent him crashing on the ground; then
it continued over the fence for a home run! The Lord's team won.
The Lord then asked Bob if he knew why Love, Faith, and Godly Wisdom
could get on base but could not win the game.
Bob answered that he did
not know why.
The Lord explained, "If your love, faith and wisdom had won the game you
would think
you had done it by yourself. Love, faith and wisdom will get
you on base, but only My grace can get you home."