Johnathan Taylor was an up-and-coming baseball player at the University of Georgia until March,
when he collided with a teammate in the outfield and was paralyzed from the waist down.
In an instant, Johnathan went from a promising major league prospect to being paralyzed and unable to play on any level.
Johnathan collided with his good friend and teammate, Zach Cone, who was drafted by the Texas Rangers in this year’s MLB draft. In a touching gesture, the Rangers also drafted Johnathan with their last pick, despite the reality that he’ll probably never play baseball again or add value on the field for the Rangers.
Spiritually, we’re paralyzed
Johnathan’s story is a good reminder for us of the story of the Bible. According to the Bible, we are spiritually paralyzed, or what the Bible refers to as "slaves to sin" (Romans 6:17) or "dead in [our] trespasses and sins" (Ephesians 2:1). As such, we are unable to contribute anything to God’s team. Worse still, we are God’s opponents and on the Enemy’s team. As Paul writes
in Romans 3:
As it is written:
"None is righteous, no, not one;
no one understands;
no one seeks for God.
All have turned aside; together they have become worthless;
no one does good,
not even one."
"Their throat is an open grave;
they use their tongues to deceive."
"The venom of asps is under their lips."
"Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness."
"Their feet are swift to shed blood;
in their paths are ruin and misery,
and the way of peace they have not known."
"There is no fear of God before their eyes."
Jesus drafts us as we are
The Bible also teaches us that despite the fact that we are spiritually paralyzed and unable to contribute anything to God’s team, and in fact are opponents of God, he still loves us and wants us on his team. So, he "drafts" us. Biblically, words like "choose," "predestine," "elect," and the like refer to this loving and gracious act of God to make sinners saints. Subsequently, the latest MLB draft included an echo of how God’s team, called the church, has been put together.
Jesus changes who we are
The unfortunate reality of Johnathan Taylor’s story is that even though he was drafted by the Rangers, he is still paralyzed. There is hope that he’ll one day be able to walk again. I pray that he does. But for now, he cannot walk.
The good news of the Bible is that once God drafts us as spiritually paralyzed opponents of his team, we don’t stay the same. Instead, we become a new creation by the power of the Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians 5:17). And, the Bible says repeatedly we then "walk" with God and "run" onto the field to play the position he has for us on his team, the church.
We get to play
And the best news is that when God drafts us and changes us, we get to play for his team, not just be spectators as he does all the work. Jesus himself calls us to go and make disciples of all nations, to baptize them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and teach them everything (Matthew 28:16–20).
As such, we should rejoice! We were paralyzed, yet God drafted us. We were opponents of God, yet he changed our hearts and made us friends and teammates. We were unable to contribute to God’s team, yet when he changes us we are able to make a meaningful contribution to his work in the world. We get get a uniform and we get to take the field!
Is God calling your name?
Today, as you read this, you may be wondering, "Could Jesus really call me to be a Christian and his friend?" Maybe you’re keenly aware of the things you've done and failed to do, the way you've lived and how you are spiritually paralyzed and an opponent of God.
It doesn't matter who you are, and it doesn't matter what you've done. Jesus drafts you as you are, calling out to you as a friend, and he will forgive you of any and all sin. He will change you, gift you, empower you, and never leave or forsake you. So it is with everyone on Team Jesus.
Johnathan Taylor was an up-and-coming baseball player at the University of Georgia until March, when he collided with a teammate in the outfield and was paralyzed from the waist down.
In an instant, Johnathan went from a promising major league prospect to being paralyzed and unable to play on any level.
Johnathan collided with his good friend and teammate, Zach Cone, who was drafted by the Texas Rangers in this year’s MLB draft. In a touching gesture, the Rangers also drafted Johnathan with their last pick, despite the reality that he’ll probably never play baseball again or add value on the field for the Rangers.
