August 28: Finding Jesus

NFL star, Michael Vick, began his quest for public redemption Monday. Vick made a formal 'guilty' plea to gambling and dogfighting conspiracy charges. He has lost his lucrative sports career, at least for now, and will probably spend some time in prison.
In his first public statements since charges were filed, Vick spoke of how terrible dogfighting is, took full responsibility for his actions, spoke about being a role model for young men who idolize him about what NOT to do. Vick also revealed that he had "found Jesus" and had asked for forgiveness.

I was watching the news with a group of people and everyone sat in silence listening to his remarks. The only line that really drew a reaction was his comment about "finding Jesus". Laughter erupted from the group, as one man asked, "How come everyone facing jail time all of sudden 'finds Jesus'?"

The general concensus seemed to be that Vick was saying all the right things in hopes of getting a lighter sentence from the judge or finding mercy with NFL officials. Most doubted the sincerity of his words. (When did Americans become so cynical? One too many scandals involving sports heroes, politicians and religious leaders, I suppose.)

For me, hearing Vick say he how found Jesus was good news. I hope it's true--time will tell. If it is true, there was a party going on in heaven when it happened. Jesus said, "I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents." (Luke 15:10)

While the Apostle Paul was "in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols. So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the God-fearing Greeks, as well as in the marketplace day by day with those who happened to be there... Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: "Men of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD."

"Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you. The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else."

"From one blood he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. 'For in him we live and move and have our being.' As some of your own poets have said, 'We are his offspring.'

"Therefore since we are God's offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone--an image made by man's design and skill. In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead." (Acts 17:16-17, 22-31)

America is a lot like the city of Athens during Paul's days: we are very religious (check any Gallup Poll), our society is proudly diverse and pluralistic, granting religious liberty and freedom of expression to all our citizens. Our people worship many gods.

Paul would stake his life on the fact that their was one, true God--the God that Jesus worshipped-- and that this God wants more than anything for people to find him, to have unhindered friendship with Him. So I hope that Michael Vick has indeed found Jesus. And I hope and pray you find him, too.

~ Father, help me not to be cynical and not to judge another man's words or motives. Thank you, that in our game of 'Hide and Seek' you let me find you. Amen.