Whenever a baseball pitcher throws a pitch that is just a bit outside of the strike zone, the catcher will invariably move his mitt a few inches in order to try to make the pitch look as if it were a strike. This is called “framing the pitch”. Umpires are rarely fooled by this ploy, but occasionally they will call a strike on a pitch that was obviously outside the strike zone. Framing doesn’t work often, but it works often enough to encourage catchers to keep on doing it.

Many people try to fool God by “framing” a particular behavior that is out of bounds for a Christian. They try to make their actions appear to be well within the parameters of holiness when their deeds are in fact sinful. Gossip, drunkenness, lying, sexual immorality, swearing and other sinful behaviors are often “framed” as being not so bad.

You may be able to fool some people with this tactic, but we must remember that God is the ultimate Umpire! God will make the final call, and you can’t fool God!

“Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.”—Galatians 6:7.