Someone has said that confession, is good for the soul.and as a general rule that is true. Lately, it seems after years of denial cyclist Lance Armstrong, feels the need to come clean as if were and has chosen to confess his athletic transgressions to Oprah.Some, will question his motives for this sudden confession and indeed, he may have certain ulterior motives for such a public confession. As a Christian However, I know that I am not called to pass judgement on anyone. As a Christian, I know God, can and will forgive Mr. Armstrong and because I am a Christian and need God's forgiveness on a daily and often moment by moment basis I am willing to forgive anyone who seeks to be forgiven. Remember the Lords prayer says, forgive us our transgressions as we forgive those who trespass against us..It is clear then that God, can forgive Lance Armstrong, and perhaps if he is sincere he may be able to forgive himself. The question is can his once loyal public not to mention many of his personal trainers and staff forgive him considering his lies and in some cases personal intimidation nearly destroyed many that he once called friends. Can they forgive him? One can only say for now that this, remains to be seen.God, is able to forgive because that is part of his nature. but one must realizes God's forgiveness does not set aside natural cost or consequences for wrong doing.The Bible, gives many examples of this basic truth Samson, broke a vow God, for gave him but he still lost his eyes and had to die with the Philistines.David was forgiven for the deliberate murder of Uriah the Hittite in battle and for the sin of adultery, with Uriah's wife Bathsheba but the child that came as a result of Davids sin of adultery died even though God forgave King David and later called him a man after his own heart God's sword of judgement never again left Davids kingdom.God did bless David and Bathsheba, with the birth of another son his name was Solomon and God, gave him great wisdom and he became the wisest man to ever live up to that time.
Peter, denied Christ, after following him for three years yet he confessed his sin and his preaching added 3000 souls in one day to the early church on the day of Pentecost in the book of Acts.The apostle Paul is considered by many to be one of the greatest Christian missionaries to have ever lived and yet before his conversion on the road to Damascus, he was in charge of executing Christians, in the early church indeed, he stood beside the coats of those who stoned Stephen, a deacon in the early church in the book of Acts.As great as the apostle Paul, was and I will never be the courageous Christian he was yet I strive to achieve not his greatness as much as his great humility for he said this of himself in Timothy 1:15 "This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation that Christ Jesus, came into the world to save sinners of whom I am chief." I too must confess that very often, I am chief among sinners. I am not qualified to judge Lance Armstrong, I can only pray for him and trust that his desire for forgiveness, is sincere.God, can forgive Lance Armstrong, but he will still have to face the consequences for the things his lies have done both to himself and in the lives of others but if he is willing to face those consequences and make amends as well as restitution where he can then as a Christian, I must forgive Lance Armstrong, even as Christ, has forgiven me. As always, my friends, these thoughts remain, just, some words, to think on.
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