Lance Armstrong & Disappointment

I typically don't blog on this topic, however, I will tie it into the topics I typically do write about.

And disclaimer: I have not googled for articles to educate myself on the topic 100%, I am responding to a few posts and conversations I've seen and had this week.

So turns out that Lance Armstrong did not win all those races NATURALLY, right? And it turns out that people are totally shocked, disappointed, and devastated over it.

I read a post that read something like, "Lance was the pinup boy for the St. Jude's Cancer Kids and they worshipped him". Hmmmm. You see where I am going?

Another friend said, "He was an ICON". Is that similar to IDOL?

I am not for one second saying what he did was right, at all. But let's put this in perspective.

We live in a society that idolizes winner, the rich, the great. Think about Tiger Woods? His affairs that devastated and betrayed his fans.

Personally, I am usually NEVER shocked by people's sin. When people come out of the closet re: drugs, affairs, or just plain 'ol 'coming out of the closet'...I say 'wow....what now?' I don't get stuck on what they did, I do however, want to know what they are going to do from this point. Will they turn away from this tragic behavior, or repeat? Do they need help getting out of that bondage? Do they need prayer? Counseling? Help? There's more to these 'devastating deeds'. There is brokenness, addiction, lust, habitual behavior that has them 'locked up'. These people need someone to come along the side of them and help them see the light and walk in it.

Unfortunately, we live in a society that glamourizes the famous, the best bodies, heros, great preachers, amazing actors, actresses, singers, doctors, inventors, etc. The list goes on and on. Look through our kids' bedrooms, what is it plastered with? Posters, bed covers, sheets of some character or something they love and possibly obsessed with. This idolatry starts young...look at your dvd collection.

My commentary on this Lance thing is this:

• I'm not shocked he used steroids for better performance.
• I am shocked at the way people are so devastated, angry and bitter.
• It's apparent that people idolized and worshipped him.
• It's sad that he would succumb to the pressure to be the best and do what it took.
• It's sad that he would have loose morals.
• It's sad he would use drugs, break the law.
• It's sad that he would jeopardize his integrity and health to win.

But that's what people, society wants. The best, the richest, the smartest, the most amazing are worshipped...and so those who are nearly there on their own buy into the lie to 'DO WHATEVER IT TAKES'.

So Lance, he met people's expectations, he amazed them. He was the most amazing and the best. But he did whatever it took to get there. The guy has come to the end of his road. His efforts for self-sufficiency has come to a close. Someone get me his number, let me call him and tell him about a 'better way'.

This kind of idolatry is similar to people of churches or organizations who lose hope with their 'leader', when he/she gets caught in sin. When the leader 'betrays' them, or someone.

The Bible clearly warns us in the first 2 of the Top Ten in Exodus 20:

• You shall have no other gods before Me.
• You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth.  You shall not worship them or serve them.

These are the TOP 2 - this is why there are so many devastated over Lance...this is why so many Christians are devastated over leaders hurting them. Some how, some where the icon, leader, winner, star, etc. became a 'god' (lower case g) in their lives. People placed these people as an idol in their life and worshipped them.

Do you think perhaps this is why the Lord warned us from the start of the commandments, from the start in the Bible to NOT do this.

Clearly, the pain is warranted by the betrayal. But how often do people let that disappointment gravely and negatively affect their lives? How many fall out of fellowship with the Lord, other believers in the case of hurt from the church, church people.

Remember, we live in a 'fallen' world. A place where everyone is vulnerable to sin.

We've heard it said, 'a sin is a sin, is a sin'. Lying is as bad as adultery. Consequences and hurt may not be the same, but both are sin...and both call for repentance. Same as stealing, murder, etc. Move from the Top Ten and go into the New Testament into the book of Matthew and find what Jesus taught regarding these offenses...even with these desires in your heart is sinfulness.

Question now: Are you still shocked?

LESSON and AGREEMENT: Let's not put one person: celebrity, sports figure, friend, pastor, boss, relative, etc. above the Lord. Be mindful that they are human and have the capacity to blow it big time.

It is about expectations. If we expect people to be perfect 100% of the time, we will be disappointed. If we expect them never to say the wrong thing, do the wrong thing, or fail, we will be disappointed.

Personally, when I hear of betrayal, dishonesty...I grimace and say, 'Darn it....what a bummer'...I'm not happy about it at all. But my next words usually are: 'See, everyone still neeeds Jesus...some for the first time...some again...or more.'

 

I once heard it said, "We need our Savior everyday".

If we keep this in perspective and look at everyone around us, stars or everyday people, friends and family....when they blow it, sin, hurt, betray...hopefully we will have a heart of compassion for them and say, "They are in need of some of the Lord's forgiveness and saving grace. They need some divine help."

That's what it boils down to....WE ALL NEED MORE JESUS!

Are you really honest with YOURSELF? Can you admit that the problem is YOU when it is?

We say we want to live for God, do good. We say we need peace, joy, hope, and love. Do you ever take a minute to ask yourself questions about the person you know best?

YOU?

Ask yourself some questions weekly to see where you are. The sooner you make midstream adjustments, the better. Here are some I think about often, use them to get your self-examination underway:

1. Is there sin in my life? Target this one first. Spend time with God and ask Him to reveal the sin in your life. "He who is without sin cast the first stone" is what Jesus told the men who wanted to stone the adulterous woman. I conclude that we all have things in our life, big and small, that is sin. What is the sin that so easily entangles you? What are the 'little' things you are letting slide? NOTE: If you let little sins go for too long, they turn into bigger ones. And/or desensitize you to the conviction of the Holy Spirit, and then you have a big mess later because you let a little sin, lead to another, then another.

2. What am I doing with my time and money? Many of us overcommit and overspend. What does this do to our family and our demeanor? And our time with God? These are the two most limited resources we have. What we do with them will affect us? How do you behave when you're schedule is so tight and you've locked your keys in your car? Or how do talk to your kids when you've jam-packed your day and one of them is reluctant to 'just sit in their seat to let you buckle them'? And what happens to you when money is tight? What are you buying that you really don't need? Where are you WASTING your money? When the bank account is dry, we get a bit stressed out, right? And then, how are we treating the people around us? We need to examine these often, they lead to bigger messes too.

3. Are my actions lining up with my words? Often I talk about goals, so when I sit down to examine myself, I look to see if I even have any on the board. When I talk about love and forgiveness, I look at my relationships to see if there is love and forgiveness in my heart. Or is my heart filled with bitterness, anger, and unforgiveness?

We need to take time to look at how we are, IN REALITY, treating people. Not look at what we want to do for others, or what we are saying we're going to do others. We need to be real and honest and look at the facts of our behavior and the way we are truly talking to people. When was the last time you sacrificed something for someone else? Went out of your way to listen to someone? Did something your flesh didn't want to do, for someone else? Have any compassion in that heart of yours?

4. Is God & my family priorities in my life?  After searching for sin in my life, looking at where I am putting my time and attention and money, and looking at how I am treating those around, I can pretty much answer this question with a yes or no.

See, this is why self-examination requires you to be 100% honest with yourself. So is the sin in your life premeditated? Is there conviction in your heart over it or you are ignoring? Are you wasting your resources on 'wanton pleasures'? Are you short, rude, disrespectful to those around you?

YOU CANNOT CHANGE FOR THE BETTER

IF YOU STAY IN DENIAL!

For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing,

he deceives himself.

But each one must examine his own work.

Galatians 6:3, 4

The goal is to do your best! Are you going to mess up and sin? Yes. You are but flesh, a man/woman in need of a Savior. Are you going to have moments of temptation to be impulsive and irresponsible with your finances and time? Probably, you're human. Are you going to have a bad day and treat people from a bad mood/attitude? Possibly, we all have a bad day.

The point, however, is to ask yourself:

Do I have continual, daily behavior that is building up or tearing down?

And only you know your motives and heart, I don't. Yet, don't sit like many and compare yourself to your neighbor/friend/coworker and say, "Well at least I'm not like them". No, don't do that.

Sit with your Bible smack dab in front of you and ask, "Am I truly being like Christ?" Strip away your denial on how you're really acting and then, and only then, can you see the need to change.

"Admitting you have a problem is the first step to recovery", right? And take heart. When you're goal is to please God and let your life bring Him glory...ask Him for all the help you need to change the things that don't line up with God's word.

Need some direction? Go to Galatians 5:19 and look at the deeds of the flesh. Ask yourself, do I have these in my life?

Then go down to Galatians 5:22 and ask yourself, do others see these in me and my life?

If you're still struggling with this concept, find someone who is NOT AFRAID TO BE HONEST WITH YOU...no intimidated, people pleasers allowed for this. Ask your honest confidant to help you identify the areas, behaviors, and actions that are repelling. Then you'll have a starting point.

See, we are all growing from glory to glory, as we continue to stay honest and transparent with God. We're not living for comfort, peace, and joy on earth, we're living to build treasures in heaven, we're living now for later in the presence of God.

So let God refine you so as you can reap the rewards that He has waiting for you!