Anchored In

“We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure." - Hebrews 6:19

Earlier this morning, my "smart" communication devices began beeping, chirping, and buzzing with the news that Lance Armstrong, seven time Tour de France winner, will be stripped of all seven of those titles by the UCI (International Cycling Union), and he will be banned for life from all sanctioned Olympic sports. This action comes as a result of accusations and evidence provided by the US Anti-Doping Agency involving Armstrong and a doping scandal. Obviously, this is hard news for us Americans to hear, as it not only diminishes the status of a revered American icon (especially because of his hard fought victory over cancer), but also because it diminishes America's position as a champion of the sporting world in the eyes of the rest of the world. It is also disheartening as it proves out the fact that the rewards of our efforts in this world are only guaranteed if we prove ourselves to be without fault.

Now, I'm not intending to take a side for or against Lance Armstrong or the UIC through this writing. I leave that to your personal convictions. But there is a good spiritual lesson to be learned here, and it is this: when God rewards us with our ultimate prize - the promise of eternity with Him - it is a reward that will never be rescinded, no matter what evidence is brought against to prove that it was not really earned. We can rest secure in this guarantee because it was never earned by us in the first place! Our reward was earned for us, by the death of Jesus, and awarded to us as a gift, from God. And gifts are never taken back by the giver. No one can ever come along later and present to God, anything, that will change His mind about our reward. Because when Satan tries to present evidence to God of our cheating, lying, and rebellion - and he has a ton of it - Jesus steps in and confirms our innocence! I do bad for Lance Armstrong, but those titles were a reward that was never going to be anything but temporary, anyway. So I pray that he, like me, has taken hold of the guarantee of the only eternal reward. And that one is anchored securely!