Philippians 2:9-10 “Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth.”
What does a baseball legend, a college president and heaven have in common?
Lancaster Bible College recently inaugurated its sixth president, Dr. Tommy Keidis. In his stirring inaugural address, he referenced six significant photos hanging on his office wall. One of the photos—Babe Ruth’s last public appearance at Yankee Stadium—especially grabbed my attention. The Pulitzer Prize winning photo by Nat Fein, shows the man considered by many to be the greatest baseball player of all time giving his final farewell. He stands before an uproarious crowd leaning on his bat. Diagnosed with cancer two years earlier, this seemingly indominable athlete, now weak and ill, would die two months later. Babe Ruth was 55 years old.
Dr. Keidis said the photo, titled “The Babe Bows Out,” reminds him of the brevity of life. Someday he, too, will bow out. As will we all.
It made me think of believers in Christ. Although we will, at some point, bow out of this life, our last appearance on earth ushers us into the beginning of what our whole lives have prepared us for. To bow down, in person, before our God, our King. Jesus.
Jesus left the splendor of heaven to become a man. He emptied himself of his equality with God and took on the form of humanity for one reason: to rescue us. We may never comprehend the depth of humility he experienced, but as his followers, scripture calls us to emulate it.
Just as Jesus made serving his Father the motivation for everything he did, so should we. We honor God when we do. When we resist that very human tendency to bow down to our own agendas and instead bow to his will, we discover a legacy of true riches.
Thomas à Kempis wrote, “He is truly great, who is humble in mind and regards earth’s honors as nothing.” I don’t know if Babe Ruth ever discovered that truth. I hope he did. But everyone will someday bow down before Jesus. Might as well start practicing now. And make the most of the time we have left.