Justin Sullivan A Life Worth Following

It is almost hard for me to believe this but nineteen years ago, I accepted my first position on staff in a local church.  So far, I have spent my entire adult life doing my very best to proclaim the promises of God.  I will be the first to admit that I am not the most articulate, I am not the most persuasive nor am I the most intelligent but I have chosen to fully commit my heart and my will to the call of Christ and to His church.  

Throughout my journey, I have often stood in front of groups of people proclaiming promises that God made to His people.  I have said countless times, "God has a plan for your life."  "Even when you don't understand your circumstances, Jesus will be faithful to you." "You can trust the Holy Spirit's leading in your life."  

Through my nineteen years of ministry experience, I have also learned that life throws a lot of "curve balls" and there are many times that those truths are much easier "said" than "done".

For example, I will never forget the question that I asked the Lord just moments after finding out that Justin had died.  I had just walked into Baptist Hospital in Oklahoma City and found out the news.  My mind was racing and my heart was pounding.  So many of God's promises that I had taught were flying around in my head but not one of them made sense in that moment.  

I vividly remember leaning against the wall of the hospital, putting my head in my hands and saying out loud, "Lord, what are you doing?  I thought you were going to use Justin to make a difference in Major League Baseball."  

Needless to say, I was confused, I was hurting, I was speechless and I was "flat out" struggling.  

Well this week, God has once again proven to me that He has a plan for life.  I have learned again that Jesus can be trusted even when I don't understand all the circumstances.  One more time, the Holy Spirit has taught me that I can trust His leading in my life.  

Last Sunday, I received a phone call from Rob Martin.  He is an agent for ICON Sports Management.  He represents several professional athletes throughout Major League Baseball.  He also happens to be the agent for a young man named Chad James.  

Chad James grew up in Yukon Oklahoma and discovered at a young age that he was really good at baseball.  Chad is an outstanding pitcher and seems to have a lightning bolt in his arm.  He is so good that the Florida Marlins chose to draft him in the first round and actually went 18th over all in this year's Major League Draft.  

Rob called me on Sunday to inform me that Chad has been impacted by Justin's life and the Ambassadors.  It was his honor to let me to know Chad wanted to donate a portion of his signing bonus to the Ambassadors.  

Immediately, my mind raced back to that day leaning against the hospital wall saying out loud, "Lord, I thought you were going to use Justin to make a difference in Major League Baseball?"  Now, I find myself, over seven years later, seeing the Lord continue to use Justin's life to make a difference in the life of the 18th pick of the 2009 Major League Draft.  

I have to be honest today, I am not claiming to understand all things about our purpose in life and in death.  However, I am amazed at this fact, God is real and His purposes are not coincidental.  

Justin was a young man who simply walked with God and played baseball.  He understood that there was a greater purpose to his life and most importantly, he took God at His word.  Justin wasn't perfect but he was faithful to the Lord.  He was a young man who's walk matched his talk and he wasn't ashamed to be labeled a follower of Christ.  He applied himself in every area of his life and he worked hard to honor Christ with the way he lived his life both on and off the baseball field.  

The bottom line is this, Justin knew what it was like to be forgiven by God and it was something he never got over and didn't take for granted.  He was a young man who chose to be a witness for Christ and was truly an Ambassador.  

Today, I am grateful for so many things.  I am grateful that Chad James chose to bless our ministry with a financial gift.  I am grateful that we were able to start this baseball ministry and be an influence to so many incredible athletes.  More importantly, I am grateful for salvation and God's promises both in life and in death.  

It is amazing to see the Lord actually using Justin and his story through the Ambassadors to make a difference in Major League Baseball.  I really thought that God would use him as a player, instead He chose to use Justin in a completely different way.  

Thank you Chad for blessing our ministry and I pray that the Lord will honor this gift you have given.  We will be faithful to use every dime to make a difference in lives of others.