THE TRUTH WILL COME OUT

Many of you have probably heard the name Marion Jones in the news recently. She was a world-class athlete who won five medals, three gold and two bronze, in the 2000 Olympics. She is an intelligent and talented young woman and the world was her stage.

Her name surfaced in 2003 when she was linked to the company accused of supplying performance-enhancing drugs to athletes. In 2006, she tested positive for steroids. The entire time Jones denied that she has used steroids. As it turns out she lied. Facing federal charges for lying to investigators, Jones pleaded guilty, admitting to using steroids both before and after the 2000 Olympics. Standing on the courthouse steps Jones said, “It's with a great amount of shame that I stand before you and tell you that I have betrayed your trust.” In an instant, Marion Jones went from champion to cheater.

Marion Jones ran head on into the truth. “But if you do not do so, then take note, you have sinned against the Lord; and 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). We read in 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.”

Marion Jones is not the only person that has made wrong choices, nor is she the only one who has tried to cover them up. “(F)or all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Each and every one of us, sooner or later, has to face the fact if our sinfulness. We may be able to hide it from some people for some time, but not from everyone for all time.

However, there is good news. Paul tells the Romans that the wages of sin is death in Romans 6:23. If he stopped there, we would all be miserable and hopeless. But he didn’t stop there. He went on to say that “the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” There is hope for Marion Jones, for Lamar Russell, for you, and for everyone else. Jesus Christ came to earth and lived as a man. He died on Calvary to make the sacrifice for our sins. Through His death, we can have life. We can have our sins forgiven and our names written in the Lamb’s Book of Life (Revelation 21:27).

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven” (Matthew 7:21). The “secret” to entering the kingdom of heaven and to receiving eternal life is obedience to the Father’s will as revealed in the New Testament. Upon hearing and studying God’s word (Romans 10:17), you believe in Jesus Christ (John 8:24), repent of your sins (Acts 17:30), confess Christ (Romans 10:9-10), and you are baptized for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38), you are a forgiven child of God. Then you must live faithfully (Revelation 2:10), when you do slip up confess your sins (1 John 1:9), repent and pray for God’s forgiveness (Acts 8:22).

Yes, it is true your sin will find you out, but it is also true that if we will trust God and obey Him His grace will find us as well.
--Lamar