The Terrific Athlete
A young man I knew in high school was a terrific athlete.
He was all-county in several events. Football being one of
his specialties, he was given trophies and awards for the 4
years he was in high school. The winter of his senior year
he was given a full scholarship to a good college up north.
This was his dream to go to college and play for one of the
best teams in the country. He had everything, popularity,
girls, nice car, family, friends.
He was a Christian and went to church and was active in his
youth group. But in the midst of all this popularity he
started to change. He was hanging out with a faster crowd
now and his conceit took over him. He was coming and going
from home as he pleased and was not taking care of his
responsibilities at home or to God.
He was drinking and running around with different girls each
weekend. We all could see our friend going down the tubes,
but he couldn't see it. Some of his closest friends and
family warned him not to be so proud or conceited. He didn't
listen. One night after a football rally, he and some guys
went drinking at the cliffs, which was a teen hang out. He
had to get up early the next day for a job interview so he
headed out early. He was not drunk, or so he thought. He was
driving his "girl of the week" home when he lost control of
the car speeding and hit a tree.
Why did this happen to him? Adversity comes from different
sources. One is from God just as the thorn in the side of
Paul describes his struggle with adversity. "there was given
me a thorn in the flesh, to keep me from exalting myself" 2
Cor. 12:7
Or we bring on adversity ourselves, "but each one is tempted
when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. Then
when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin
is accomplished, it brings forth death. James 1:14-15 Or the
great adversary himself, Satan. "Be of sober spirit, be on
the alert. Your adversary, the devil prowls about like a
roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. But resist him,
firm in you faith, knowing that the same experiences of
suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in
the world. 1 Peter 5:8-9
Satan loved the fact that this guy was so into himself with
conceit and lust and not God. God was hurt that His child
was so into the world and fading from Him. God needed to
bring his child back to Him. And he was on a suicide trip
from the beginning when he lost site of God and headed into
the joys of "the fast lane."
Firefighters and paramedics worked on the boy and girl for
hours. Both had to be cut out of the car. They were flown to
shock trauma in the city. He had fractured his leg in 4
places, amongst other injuries. Which meant several
operations in the next few years in order that he would walk
again.
She had many injuries but none life threatening. In one
split minute his world was altered. He was charged with DUI
and a life knowing he messed up. And no more dreams of "big
man on campus." No football, no scholarship. He was brought
to his knees to God, crying out in great pain. Many years
later I heard that this same boy was in the mission field,
he went to college and seminary and was going around the
country speaking to teens about the love of God and
forgiveness. He spoke for God and touched many hundreds of
lives. Each time he spoke he thanked God for the adversity
in his life that brought him to where he is today. The
adversities we face in life have purpose. Learn from your
adversity, thank God for it and let Him be glorified because
of it.
Author unknown. If anyone has a proprietary interest in this story please authenticate and I will be happy to credit, or remove, as the circumstances dictate.
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