I am thankful that Tennis Week Magazine kindly sent me as a gift their December and January editions.  Reading ‘In Our Memories…Friends and loved ones who died this year’ I see that a few listed have crossed my path as I was growing up. I had the privilege of knowing Kay Shubert and Eve Kraft, both former USTA officials along with Grand Slam champion, Don Budge, whom I had met.

Don, 84, had a car accident December 14, 1999 and by January 17th was permanently confined to a nursing home.  As I read this, I was saddened.  One of the legends in tennis, many say the greatest, confined in a place where he could not be recognized for this past accomplishments.  It is likely that he had no one to talk to him about tennis in this nursing home.  In a way I was relieved when I read that Don was called to the Lord and died January 26th.  I wonder if he had accepted Christ, if anyone had ever told him that he could have eternal life with God.  Perhaps, he died not having assurance of a wonderful life after death.

Don Budge won the first Grand Slam, Australian, US, French Open, and Wimbledon in 1938.  Before this time, a person winning all four major tennis championships in one year was thought impossible.  When Don accomplished this, the press invented the term "Grand Slam" and Don became a worldwide celebrity.  Incredibility, the ‘Grand Slam’ has been matched by only one other male player, Rod Laver, in 1962 and 1969.

Perhaps you have wondered, as I have, how good were some of the past greats of tennis? I was invited to the USTA teachers conference in New York City in the mid-1980’s and I met Don Budge.  Surprising only about 5 people gathered around him and asked him some questions.  Tennis historians have said that his most feared weapon as a player was his backhand.  I spoke to him about it, and then he said would you like to see it?  I stood back and watched what by modern day standards would be a little unorthodox technique.  Make no mistake, it was the model of efficiency.  He dropped a ball in front of him and with the other arm he took a circular backswing, and POW!  It rocketed across the net by inches.  I was quite certain that in his prime he had a backhand to rival any pro today.  That put to rest my idea as to the ability of the earlier generations!

All the greatest tennis players of today will be a distant memory in the future.  The greatest tennis champions today will certainly become the legends of tomorrow, just as Don Budge.   The applause, glory and memories will fade, but not their records in the record books.

The Bible in Revelations teaches us that Jesus Christ also has a record book, called the Book of Life. Within a millisecond after your last breath, God will see if you are listed in His book of life. You name will be listed in this book for one of two reasons.  If you have never heard the name and not had the opportunity to make Jesus Christ your Lord, you will be judged by your deeds or if you have made Jesus Christ your Lord.  If your name is listed you will have eternal life with God in a wonderful place called heaven.  If your name is not listed you will have eternal misery in hell forever separated from God.

My greatest regret is that the people I mentioned in this article, I never shared the Gospel with.   I was not a Christian when I knew them.  I wish I had asked them their opinion of Jesus Christ, God, Church, or a family member who was a believer.  Now those opportunities are lost forever.  I really hope that that they knew a God who loved them, listed their name in heavens record books,  and had prepared a place for them after this earthly life.  I sincerely hope that Don is hitting those backhands in heaven just as he did in his youth.

Revelation 3:5
5   He who overcomes will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his name before my Father and his angels.

Revelation 20:12
12   And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. (NIV)