Automatic outs - 2016 Rio Olympics: Reflections

Main Course: I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith (2 Timothy 4:7).

I was reminiscing about the Olympics today and how some teams or persons were disqualified at various times for various reasons. But there were 3 main reasons that stuck out in my mind: #1 false start (4 years gone down the drain) #2 cheating/negligence (automatically out) and #3 doping (you’re out).

I thought about God’s “0 tolerance”, His rules: First of all, if you don’t know Jesus as your personal Savior, you’re out. You won’t enter into the kingdom of heaven, period (John 10:9; 14:6). Secondly, if you blaspheme the Holy Ghost, you’re out (Mark 3:29); and thirdly, if you take the mark of the beast, you are definitely out (Rev. 14:9-12).

So we must run this race with patience (endurance) like Paul (2 Tim. 4:7) and like Jesus (John 17:4). If the Olympic Committee has their own set of rules and regulations to measure standards and excellence, how much more does God (who is the Holy and Righteous Judge)? And even though He always reserves the right to change His mind, it is plainly stated in his Word that there will be no exceptions for these three. Don’t’ be deceived; on Judgement Day, mercy will be nowhere around to plead your cause. We must obey all the rules and stay in the game, finish the course. No exceptions, no excuses, period. When He reviews our lives in slow motion, let us not be found guilty of any technicality or just plain outright, blatant sin because the price will be too heavy to pay (eternal damnation). Will you run a clean race?