The List

Last Friday night, I took my oldest son down to a Twins game against the Astros. It is a major occasion for us to watch the Twins because it takes three hours to drive from our house to the parking lot at the stadium. The reason we were excited to see the Astros play was because a friend of our family is one of their starting pitchers.

Shortly after finding our seats in left field, Allan and I realized this wasn't going to be just another professional baseball game, as if we needed another excuse to get excited about being there. During batting practice, our friend, Collin McHugh was walking with several other pitchers to left field to shag balls hit out there. When I recognized him, I yelled his name to get his attention. He looked over and I called out my name. So he ran over to talk briefly as I leaned over the center field wall to say hi. I told him, I wish I could get down (to the warning track) to talk to him. It was a little awkward with so many fans watching and wondering what our connection was. He told me that he would put my name on the family list so that Allan and I could make our way down to the locker room after the game. Then he left to retrieve fly balls.

Allan and I looked at each other in disbelief. Did he just say he was writing us on the family list? Were we going to be able to go down to the player's tunnel? I thought to myself, I wonder how many fans here tonight would love to have their name written on this family list? Allan and I for a brief moment looked at each other with a smile and realized we weren't dreaming. Shortly after we came to the realization that we heard him right, Collin caught a fly ball in the outfield and tossed it up to us. What a thrill!

Knowing we had the opportunity to go down to the locker room after the game meant we would not be leaving after the seventh or eighth inning to beat traffic or to get a head start on our journey home. What made this more difficult was the fact that the game started an hour and twenty minutes late due to a rain delay. However, there was no way we were leaving early. Allan and I even took a trip around the stadium to find the elevator that would send us down to the players tunnel just so we wouldn't get lost after the game.

The Astros got off to an early lead scoring a run in the third and fourth inning, then adding three more in the sixth. Then the Twins made it interesting at the end scoring four in the seventh and eighth. When the game was over, Allan and I quickly made our way to the elevator next to section one-twelve at Target Field. As we stood outside the elevator the operator asked us who we were. She wanted to make sure we were on the list. I introduced myself and told them what player we were with. She didn't have to look very far because there were only two names on the list. She says, wow, you would be the envy of most fans here tonight.

Two more Target Field employees and security guards checked to see who we were on our way down to the Astros locker room. Then we waited there and Collin came out with half the Astros' pitching staff. I introduced Collin to Allan and we talked and took pictures together. All of this was possible because our names were on that family list. What a special time I was able to have with my son.

As I drove home into the night and contemplated the events of the evening, and specifically being put on the player's family list, the Lord reminded me of the most important list that any of us will ever have our names on, the Lamb's book of Life. Revelation 21 talks about Heaven and verse 27 says, "Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life." The Lamb's book of life contains the names of those who have made a faith decision to believe and follow Jesus.

The Bible says in Acts 16:31, "Believe in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved." This is what needs to be done in order to have our names written on this most important list. My name is written there. Jesus is Lord of my life. When you make the decision to follow Jesus, your name is written there too and heaven awaits. When our names are written there, it not only gets you into heaven, but you will enjoy being in the presence of Jesus for all eternity. If your name is not written on the list you will be turned away and sent to the horrible alternative. Follow Jesus and join God's family list.