River of Life Alliance Church
Tiger Woods is in the news lately for alleged indiscretions on his part. The natural response of many people is judgment and disdain for him. My response? I am no better than Tiger, in fact I am worse and deserve God's judgment, because I am an adulterer at heart.
Yes, Tiger has apparently transgressed the 7th commandment in the physical. He has done this multiple times. The reason he is a better man than me? He does not profess to be a Christian. He lives like the devil in that area, because he is just acting like the one whom he serves. He is just acting naturally, fulfilling his lusts. The only consequence he has now is a loss of esteem with some of his sponsors and an understandably embarrassed and angry wife. He may face divorce, lawsuits, and paying out a lot of hush money. He is also impacting his children negatively, and apparently his mother-in-law has some stress-related health issues. His sin has natural consequences, and, if he does not repent and trust Christ, it will have eternal consequences.
When I lusted in my mind, I did so as a professing Christian, with knowledge it was wrong. I simply suppressed the truth, believing in cheap grace and a god that would forgive me no matter what I did. 1 John 1:9 was my get out of jail free card. I never repented, never forsook the sin, never applied the Gospel in that area of my life. In doing so, I broke all 10 of the ten commandments. I did not place God as my primary affection, it was my lust. I made an idol- a god in my mind that served me and turned a blind eye to my sin. I blasphemed God's name by calling myself a Christian and living a lifestyle of sin. I dishonored my mother and father by participating in that sin. I also dishonored my in laws by disrespecting their daughter. I broke the sabbath, in that my rest was not in Christ. I murdered my wife, by not loving her I demonstrated hate toward her in the way I treated her. I already talked about committing adultery; but I would also lie and cover up my sin. Lastly, I did not honor God for the wife He gave me as I coveted other women.
Despite the fact that I believe I was a Christian at the time I was doing this, I know that I am now, because the Gospel has been applied to this area of my life. I have been saved, and I am being saved from this and all other sin.
Why am I writing this? because a lot of people are bashing Tiger Woods, even some Christians. I looked at him and said 'there but for the grace of God go I' If it were not for the grace of God, I would be lost, still dead in sin and trespasses. I am a more wretched sinner than Tiger, for I have used the grace of God as a license to sin. I thank God for his mercy, and I echo Paul in saying 'Should I go on sinning that grace may increase? MAY IT NEVER BE! (Romans 6:1).
If your story is like mine, Examine yourself to see if you are in the faith. I invite you to repent- confess (agree with) God that lust is a sin, forsake that sin, and place your trust in Christ to save you from that sin. Do not use grace as a license to keep on sinning. And pray for Tiger Woods, that He may find the grace of God in the midst of this trying time.