We all know them. The ones who in 2007 were nowhere to be found, but in 2008 couldn’t stock up on enough Rays gear. I’ve been a Rays fan since 1998. 6 years old. Through the Devil Rays and the “New Era” Rays, I’ve seen it all. I may not recall it all, but I’ve seen it all. And theres nothing I despise more than to see someone wearing a Rays jersy one day, then a Rex Sox jersey the next. Theres a word for that - fake. Even worse someone who will profess they LOVE THE RAYS, OMG! but then they’re outer apperance after a loss isn’t just one of dissapointment; it’s one of disownment. They were let down. The perfect season was ruined. And because they never really had a true sense of loyalty the were fairweather fans, they convinced those around them they were legit, but in their hearts they were being fake. God isn’t looking for fairweather fans. he’s not looking for people who juist want to partake of the blessing, who want that winning feeling then as soon as ONE THING doens’t go EXACTLY like they wanted it to, its automatically God’s fault and they ditch Him and got ot the Sox…um, i mean the devil (same thing, really). You cant be clothed in Righteousness one day, then sin the next. no, no, no - faith is loyalty. faith is trusting your Guy, your God to come through in the clutch, EVEN if it seems like all is lost. Maybe this is a season of preperation for you - you might not get everything, everything might not FIT into your grand scheme of things, your “World Series” MIGHT be lost. is that a reason to quit? I have a friend, Javy< whose a Braves fan. they havent won the World series since 95, BUT i don’t see him wearing a sox jersey everytime they roll through. why? HE IS LOYAL, he has FAITH in his team. Some people in the world are more passionate about their sports idols than a majority of Christians are passionate about God! They’re more loyal! WHAT?!?! Their sports team doesn’t know anything about them, nor do they care for them, but through thick and thin, good season and bad season, they stay true. God has LOVED you since the beginning of the earth! He has had a plan for you since day one, and had the hairs on your head counted and memorized, he pays THAT much attention to YOU, but if you have a rough season, your hoppin’ the fence looking to the sox (crap,l i mean the devil - so synonomous) for a good season! theres no loyalty. loyalty in your faith is characterized by TRUST and PERSERVERANCE. if you can trust that God has made a way for you, even through this rough season and PERSERVERE through it, THATS loyalty! THATS faith! faith isnt built in the times of ease - its built in the dark times, the hard trimes, the “rough” seasons. i went through 10 years of rough seasons with the Rays before 2008, and I’ve had some rough patches with God before, in fact im kinda on the tail end of one right now, BUT after TEN YEARS, that 2008 season, being able to go to a World Series game with my dad and grandpa?? so worth the rough seasons. And in this life, this life thats sure to be filled with rough patches, ive learned to savor and be educated by the rough patches because the blessing on the other side makes the ENTIURE debocale worth it! see, i could have been like OH im cheering for the devil (sorry, sox) and had those seasons, but that would have broken my loyalty with the Rays, and that easiness of getting that winning feeling wouldnt have been the same. i could go to the club, go grab a drink, go have a smoke, but I DONT WNAT TO, because i know my faith and loyalty to this pursuit of holiness and purity are SO WORTH IT, and that God would never switch teams on me. wow, this was so not where i was planning on going with this. but yeah. keep your shirt on. be hot or cold, be a Ray or a Sox, follow God or follow the devil, you will choose who you will serve and its gonna be one, or the other. theres no fairweather excuse at the judgment throne. your life will be put on the alter, and burnt in a refining fire - will the precious jewles of faith and loyalty remain, or will there just be chaff of flipfloppage, and lukewarmness thats gonna blow away? your call.
