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The
Hall of Shame
The
following editorial appeared in the Salt Lake Tribune
earlier this week:
“Marion
Jones owned the 2000 Summer Olympic Games in
Sydney
. A world-class sprinter and long jumper, she won five
medals - three gold and two bronze - in track and
field. Attractive, articulate, intelligent and
talented, she was
America
's darling.
And the world was her stage...
“For
nearly two decades, from a high school track in
California
to a college stadium in
North Carolina
to the starting blocks at international venues, Jones
out jumped and outran them all. But in the
end, she couldn't run from the truth!
“Jones,
31, was faster than a speeding bullet because she was
higher than a kite on anabolic steroids. Her name
first surfaced in 2003, when she was linked to the
company accused of supplying baseball's Barry Bonds
with performance-enhancing drugs. Then, in 2006, she
tested positive for steroids.
“Through
it all, Jones denied, denied, denied. And, as it
turns out, she lied, lied, lied! To her fans, her
family, federal investigators AND to herself!
“Facing
federal charges for lying to investigators, Jones
pleaded GUILTY!
On Saturday, standing on the steps of a federal
courthouse in New York City where she will be
sentenced early next year, Jones admitted to using
steroids both before and after the 2000 Olympics.
‘It's with a great amount of shame that I stand
before you and tell you that I have betrayed your
trust,’ she said.
“And
with that admission, Marion Jones staggered across the
finish line for the final time, announcing her
retirement from track and field. In an instant, she
went from champion to cheater; from the "Hall
of Fame" to the "Hall of Shame.” *
Marion
Jones’ painful ordeal reminds us of a GREAT TRUTH: “Be
sure, YOUR sin will find you out” (Numbers
32:23). It
may happen swiftly or it may be revealed in time, but
one day, ALL sin will be exposed (2 Corinthians
5:10).
The
TRUTH IS: Marion Jones is NOT the only one that has
made some terrible choices, nor is she is the only one
that has tried to cover them up.
“For ALL have sinned and fall short of the
glory of God” (Romans 3:23).
Each and every one of us has “had our picture
hung” in the “Hall of Shame.”
The
GOOD NEWS is: Forgiveness is available – to Marion
Jones and to ALL of us!
God gave His Son to die on the cross to pay
the price for our sins (Eph 1:7).
He will forgive those who come to him in faith,
believing
in Jesus (Acts 16:30-31), turning from sin in repentance
(Acts 17:30-31), confessing
Jesus before men (Romans 10:9-10), and are baptized
(immersed) in Jesus’ name (Acts 2:38).
He will continue to forgive those who continue
to strive to follow His Word faithfully (1 John 1:7).
Although
each of us has been recognized in the “Hall of
Shame,” through Jesus we may have our names
recorded in the Lamb’s Book of Forgiveness and Life
(Revelation 21:27).
Won’t
YOU trust and obey Him?
David
A. Sargent,
Minister
Church
of Christ at Creekwood
1901
Schillinger Rd. S.
Mobile, Alabama 36695
* “Hall of shame: Steroidal sprinter Marion
Jones inducted.” Tribune
editorial.
The Salt
Lake
Tribune
. 10/8/2007.
http://www.sltrib.com/ci_7121459
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