Switching Allegiances

The wild card round of the 2025 MLB Playoffs is now complete, with three series being decided in winner-take-all Game Threes on Thursday.

After the Tigers defeated the Guardians and the Cubs topped the Padres earlier in the day, all eyes turned to New York, with the Yankees set to square off against their bitter rival, Boston, for a chance to advance to the ALDS.

Taking the mound for the Yankees last night was 24-year-old rookie Cam Schlittler, a 2022 seventh-round pick called up to the Majors in July of just this year.

But despite his relative inexperience, Schlittler pitched as though he had been on the big stage his entire life.

Facing a daunting Red Sox lineup, Schlittler threw eight innings of scoreless ball, punching out 12 batters and surrendering zero walks in the process. His 12 strikeouts were the most ever recorded by a pitcher in a winner-take-all game in MLB postseason history, and helped pave the way for New York's 4-0 victory.

What makes his performance even more remarkable, though, is that Schlittler is a native of Walpole, Massachusetts, meaning he grew up as a diehard fan of the Red Sox.

Although he viewed the Yankees as his enemy, once drafted by New York in 2022, switching his allegiances to the Yankees was inevitable for Schlittler. That meant he not only had to give his all for the Yankees, but also had to compete actively against his previous team.

As followers of Jesus, we all underwent a similar switch of allegiances when we trusted in Christ and were born again.

The Bible makes it very clear that all people are by nature enemies of God. We are not neutral in our behavior, but are actively warring against God because of our unbelief.

Romans 5:10 (NIV) states, "For if, while we were God's ENEMIES, we were reconciled to Him through the death of His Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through His life!" (Emphasis added)

Romans 8:7 (ESV) explains, "For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot."

Of course, the great news for us is that when we repent of our sins and put our trust in Jesus alone to save us, God removes us from our former "team." Satan no longer binds us to do his bidding. Instead, our almighty and glorious God transfers us to a new "team," where we can now serve Him.

Colossians 1:13 (NASB) says, "For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son."

However, just as was the case with Schlittler, our transfer of allegiances means that we not only belong to a new "team," but we must also actively engage in fighting against our old "team."

Ephesians 5:11 (LSB) commands us, "And do not participate in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead even expose them."

Ephesians 6:12 (NLT) says, "For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places."

When God transfers us to His "team," He calls us to action to fight against our previous allegiances.

That means that when we encounter lies and deceit, we stand firm in His truth. When injustice prevails, we strive to bring about biblical justice. When immorality is rampant, we fight to establish righteousness.

There can be no neutrality in our position. To be with God means to be against His enemies, and thankfully, we're on the winning team!

Today, let's look for ways that we can "fight" for the kingdom of God. We once rooted for the wrong team, but now let's fully embrace our new allegiance.  

Let's seek to bring truth, righteousness, and justice everywhere that we go, so that God may be honored by our lives.

I'm Matt Osborne, and you can UNPACK that!

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank you for saving me and bringing me into Your kingdom. I know that I am undeserving, but that I have received Your boundless grace. Please help me to fight against darkness by living for You at all times. In Jesus' name, I pray, Amen.