You guys tend to smarter than the average bear, you're reading this, so
maybe you can help me with this one. Please explain to me, so I can explain it
to the younger kids, the difference between right and wrong? Not so easy, is
it. Take sports for instance, when Roger Maris broke the Babe's home run record
in 1961, he was vilified for it. He had extra games, played at night, etc. And
for 40 some years it, his record was unbroken. Then Mark McGuire and then
Barry Bonds both it more, in the same amount of games in the season. But we
find the Babe is in the Hall of Fame, but not Roger. And when the votes were
cast for this years Hall, not one person was chosen. Not Bonds, McGuire, or
Sosa, all big hitters, nor Roger Clemens, Cy Young Award winner multiple times.
Their records were real, but their reputations tarnished. They used steroids,
and although not admitting it, look at their before and after pictures. And
their actions in the court and before the press, and just like OJ was found
innocent when guilty, so are they, and the public sentence can be far harsher
than any court or Hall can administer. We watch as Lance Armstrong finally
admits to being a steroid junkie. Remember Lyle Alzado-he died from them. We
watch Joe Paterno and the Penn State football legacy go up in flames because of
Sandusky and his perversion-but he's the coach, we can't rat him out. Maybe
life in jail isn't good enough for him as a punishment. And the NFL after going
on a witch hunt with negligible proof of head hunting, accusing the Saints and
others of placing a bounty on hurting opposing players, then backing off after
the damage is done, dropping all charges, no wonder no players have respect for
Roger Goodell and the NFL. We sit back and honor Junior Seau, who commits
suicide from too many hits in the head, we watch as Ali shakes as he walks and
tries to talk-not quite the same shuck and jive he used to become the greatest.
But perhaps the greatest joke, travesty, or irony is Pete Rose. Betting is OK
in sports, just not on your own team. And baseball's best hitter will never be
in the Hall, maybe a social comment on both of them. And when channel surfing
last week, watched part of his reality show, Hits and Mrs., where he is going to
marry this Eurasian women with two kids, and the young boy has never heard of
Pete Rose. And Pete fails trying to help him, at baseball, as the kids ridicule
him. We turned it off when the bride to be complained about her breast
enhancements-to much reality for me. Is this what reality has become? Now, can
you explain right and wrong to me? Help!
After Peter, James, and John were on the Mount of Transfiguration with
Jesus, He told them not to tell anyone. Not to brag, and they didn't. Yet when
He confronts them later, and asks what they were talking about, they say
nothing. Because they were talking among themselves about who was the
greatest! They were there that day, the three of them. Now God wishes us to
use all of the talents He has given us for greatness, or He wouldn't have given
them to us. But for whose glory? And at what cost? His answer may surprise
you, simply put, "the first shall be last, and the last first. And you must
be servant to all." I'll bet that upset them, "but we were there!" Statistics
are nice, book sales, BMW's, trendy clothes, and yes, motorcycles too, but all
pale when compared to God. All those things will pass away-hard to think of
money or cars as wood, hay, or stubble. Although some bikes I have ridden may
qualify. Just how important is yards gained per carry now?
When our natural instinct is to pump us up, place us first to be
successful, Jesus turns the whole thing around. Placing God first, gaining
glory for Him and not yourself wins the race. The race that God has set before
us called life. For the true measure of greatness is found in how we serve
God. Not what we think we should do for Him, but in obedience, found through
love. Keeping the commandment Jesus left with us, "love the Lord with all your
heart, soul, and mind. And your neighbor as yourself." No drugs needed for
that.
So what is your ambition? Who does it shed light on? And what does it
leave in its wake? Ask Mark McGuire if it was all worth it. Ask OJ. We can't
ask Junior, but his words from the grave speak volumes, if we care to listen.
Jesus also asks "what does a man profit if he gains the world, but loses his
soul?" We may not all be Hall of Fame material, few are. But we all have the
choice to have our names written in the Book of Life. Sadly some struggle and
fail to get into the Hall, when Jesus promises them a whole mansion. Now, how
would you explain the difference between right and wrong? Maybe it is as
simple, God forgives, the world doesn't. A clear example of why I rather have
my name be recorded, than a record setter. Records are meant to be broken.
Some are still waiting to get into the Hall, I have the keys to my own mansion.
And your answer is....
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com