It is the dead of winter and in the midst of the NFL playoffs, but half of the sporting news remains riveted on the ‘boys of summer’ and major league baseball.
After a long awaited report on illegal drug use in baseball, led by former U.S. Senate majority leader George Mitchell, the dust seems do be doing anything but settling. Besides MLB’s new home run king Barry Bonds, the biggest name on the accused list was perennial all-star pitcher Roger Clemens.
In an interview this Sunday with Mike Wallace of 60 Minutes, Clemens denied the accusation by his former trainer that he had been injected with steroids and human growth hormones, both of which are banned by baseball. Clemens swore he never took the substances and has even filed a suit again Brian McNamee as the charge now raises suspicion about one of baseball’s greatest ever pitchers, thus endangering his once certain slot in the Hall of Fame.
The Bible, although a spiritual book, makes several references and applications to secular sports. And none are more specific than Paul’s words in his first letter to the church at Corinth. In chapter 9 and beginning with verse 24 he writes, “Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.”
Paul was apparently more than aware that the way he lived his life and the methods with which he served his Lord were as crucial as what he verbalized concerning spiritual matters. His great fear was that he would tell others how to live for Christ while failing to live up to those same lofty standards himself. His only goal was to compete according to the rules of God in order to win the prize of God at life’s end.
It may well be that neither side will be able to prove whether or not Roger Clemens, or others like him, did something wrong and illegal in their career. But that is certainly not the case with God according to Hebrews 4:13. “And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.”
It has been said that, “You can fool some of the people some of the time. But you cannot fool all of the people all of the time.” But in the spiritual realm, and with eternal matters, Galatians 6:7 makes it clear that you cannot fool God any of the time! ”Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.”
Bill Breckenridge
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