Disqualified
By Dean Honeycutt
Mitchell County
It is heartbreaking when you work hard at something, and it does not turn out the way you expected. All the long hours and dedication seem wasted. Olympic athletes train long hours and work extremely hard to be the best they can be. And only the best of the best will come home with medals.
Decorated competitive swimmer Alex Walsh knows what it is like to put in demanding work. She is a 2020 Olympic silver medalist and multi-gold medalist of the Pan American and World Championship games. Olympic swimmers are very technical and swim with accuracy and perfection. Their intense training workouts help them strive for perfection.
Walsh placed third in the 200-meter individual medley in the 2024 Paris Olympics. However, the medal was taken from her when she was disqualified for an illegal turn coming out of her backstroke. One minor mistake cost her the medal.
The Bible says we have all sinned and come short of the glory of God. We do not want to admit this, but we are not good. We think we do good and act good, but we are not good. Jesus said none is good. When we think about ourselves, we compare ourselves to other people. We have not stolen or murdered anyone so we conclude we are good. However, the truth is we are disqualified from God’s standards. “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.” James 2:10.
We cannot blame our sin on Adam, or our culture, we are responsible for our sin. We cannot ignore our sin or pretend it does not exist. “Therefore, to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.” James 4:17
Is God responsible for our sins since He created us? No, God is not responsible for our sins. The Bible says God cannot be tempted with evil neither does He tempt man to sin. We sin because we choose to sin.
So, the bottom line is we are disqualified. This is a “hard pill to swallow” when we think everything is okay and we are trying our best. But our best is not good enough. The Bible says our righteousness is filthy rags. We do not want to admit this, but it is true.
I praise the Lord there is one who is qualified and who never sinned. Jesus Christ is qualified, and He is without sin. Jesus Christ God’s only Son came from heaven to earth to die on the cross for my sins. He did for me what I could not do for myself. He paid my sin debt. His blood paid for my sin and washed me clean before God. When I trust the Lord as my Savior, God does not see what disqualifies me, however, He sees the righteousness of His Son Jesus Christ in me. This righteousness of Christ qualifies me before the Father.
I want to thank God for saving me and giving me the gift of eternal life. Are you Saved? Do you have a relationship with Jesus? Have you repented of your sin and trusted in Jesus Christ as Savior? You can place your faith in Christ today and follow Him as your Lord and Savior.
God bless you,
Pastor Dean Honeycutt
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Pastor Dean Honeycutt shepherds Snow Hill Baptist Church in Bakersville, NC. He may be reached at 828-385-0213, snowhillbaptist@gmail.com, or visit their website at www.snowhillbaptist.com.
You can read more good Christian news from Dean HERE.
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