Scripture Text: "f we
confess our sins, he is faithful and just to
forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from
all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:9 (KJV)
I am told that in his autobiography written
in 2004, Pete Rose finally admitted that he
bet on baseball games while employed as
manager of the Cincinnati Reds. This of
course, was a major infraction of the rules
and it cost Pete Rose to be banned from
Baseball since 1989 up to today 2007. The
ban is actually a lifetime ban - but it
wasn't until 2004 that Rose finally admitted
his crime after he had denied it for 15
years.
Sounds kind of like what happened to Adam
and Eve in the Garden of Eden doesn't it?
Sounds like what is promised for even you
and me if we don't keep right with God.
There are those that would like you to just
wink at sin and go forward; they call it a
mistake and will tell you that there are
little sins and big ones and that it's only
the big ones you need worry about. Don't
sweat the small stuff. Well, The Bible tells
us several things about sin, and the one
important one to remember is that "the
soul that sinneth, it shall die". You
see, the soul belongs to the Lord. He
created you and He cares what happens to you
and how you live your life. That's
what this series is about - Walking in the
Will of the Lord for you life.
Now, the fact that the soul the sinneth
shall die is a reason to repent and get in
right standing with the Lord everyday. But
at what cost? What price tag are you willing
to place on your confession.
In September of 2006, Pete Rose - the
baseball player I was talking about a bit
ago opened up a Web-site
http://www.peterose.com and he began
using it to personally apologize to each of
the fans he had failed or offended. In fact,
for only $299 plus $4.95 shipping
handling, Pete Rose will send "you" an
autographed baseball that reads, "I'm sorry
I bet on baseball." (most of the prices
on the site now [2010] have dropped to under
$50)
Well, in reading a few of the stories
leading up to Pete Rose's Confession page, I
found that the reason Pete is doing
this is that he wants to still be considered
for the Hall of Fame. WOW! He must have been
hit in the head with a ball
during a game . . . he just doesn't seem to
get it.
One of the commentators wrote this about
Pete Rose's confession:
"Anyone can ask for forgiveness, but they
really only control the apology," said
Luskin, the forgiveness expert.
"Forgiveness is something that is given. You
can't just take it."
Ahhh... I couldn't have said it better. By
the same token we can't just ignore it and
hope it will go away. We have to go
to the Lord and ask His forgiveness and then
receive it as a FREE GIFT! No $299, no $4.95
Shipping and handling -
IT'S FREE! This is essential to walking in
the will of God and I'll tell you why.
The same quest for gaining that ultimate
prize that has not eluded Pete Rose - but
not rewarded to him for his
indiscretions against baseball will elude
those who seek Heaven as their ultimate
prize and yet do not follow the
teachings of Jesus and truly repent of their
sin.
Knowing that you are forgiven and living
under the Grace and Mercy of God; and in
reverence of Him, is the only way we
can know His will.
Make it a practice everyday to cone to Jesus
for forgiveness and cleansing - before it
becomes a stumbling block
rather than a step of righteousness.
Let's pray:
Father I do repent of all of my sin today
and I ask that you would lead me in the
paths of righteousness in all my ways.
In Jesus' Name I Pray, Amen.
