Two high school baseball teams are playing for the division championship.  They both have only one loss and that to the other team.  Early in the game, the best player for the home team hits a towering home run.  But, it’s foul by two inches.  The home plate umpire calls it a foul ball.  The home team loses in a close game.


Kenny Lofton, major league baseball player, is playing in a college NCAA basketball game for the chance to advance in the Elite Eight round.  His team leads by two points with seconds to go in the game.  He darts in front of the opposition ball handler taking a charging foul.  No whistle.  With Lofton now out of position, the ball handler shoots and drains a three pointer.  UNLV wins by one point.


Morton girls’ basketball team is playing a Sectional game against Galesburg.  With seconds remaining in the first half and Morton trailing by five points, the coach calls for the team to take the last shot of the half.  A Morton player is called for traveling.
Galesburg takes the ball out of bounds, rushes down the court, one of their players takes a difficult three point shot, scores, and Galesburg ends the half leading by eight points.  Galesburg scores first in the second half and easily wins the game.          


“Factor in a controversial call that ended the match and you can understand the Potters’ lack of enthusiasm.


In a close game 2, the Potters led 27-26 and, after a back-and-forth rally, Dunlap appeared to have won the point to tie the game.  But an Eagles player was called in the net, giving Morton the point and the match.


A disappointed Eagles coach … said she was surprised by the call.

‘It’s a tough way to end the season,’ she said.  ‘The players should decide the match.’” (Peoria Journal Star, 10/30/05, page D7)


Excuse me.  I read nothing saying the player was not in the net.  The players did decide the match.  The rules state that a player should not touch the net in the course of play.  If the player was indeed in the net then the referee absolutely should call the infraction.  That is why there are rules of the game.

The idea of not following the rules during certain portions of a game or match leads to chaos.  How does one know when the rules are enforced if they are not enforced all the time?


The apparent home run was not because it was foul according to the rules.  Morton forfeited the basketball because a player traveled.  Kenny Lofton should have been called for a foul or the ball handler should have been called for a foul because a foul occurred.  If Lofton would have knocked the player over, stolen the ball, and scored should that stand because they were letting the players play?  Not according to the rules and the rules are there for a purpose—to insure that everyone plays by the rules so that the outcome is fair to everyone according to the rules.  

If the rules are not enforced, it is then that the players don’t decide the match.  Stay out of the net, don’t violate the rules, and the results determine the victors.  Violate the rules and the results, according to the rules, determine the victors.  The comment by the Dunlap coach was simply wrong and, if in fact, the player was in the net no controversy existed nor should one exist.
  
Of course, we have the same attitude in many instances in today’s society.  If the Supreme Court doesn’t like the rules as established by the Constitution, they simply ignore the rules and make their own.  If we don’t agree with a speeding law, we simply ignore the law and make our own.  


Some people even try to either rewrite or ignore GOD’S rules.  They do so at their peril and they will lose a lot more than a high school game.  Rules exist for a reason.  GOD’S rules exist for a reason.  No one has the right to violate GOD’S rules.  They do so at their peril.


“Then I heard the angel in charge of the waters say: ‘YOU are just in these judgments, YOU who are and who were, the HOLY ONE, because YOU have so judged; for they have shed the blood of YOUR saints and prophets, and YOU have given them blood to drink as they deserve.’


And I heard the alter respond: ‘Yes, LORD GOD ALMIGHTY, true and just are your judgments.’” (Revelation 16: 5-7)  “Do not be deceived: GOD cannot be mocked.  A man reaps what he sows.  The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the SPIRIT, from the SPIRIT will reap eternal life.” (Galatians 6: 7-8)