Modern Examples of the Faith - Pt 2

You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments. (Exodus 20:4-6 ESV).

Our second celebrity comes from the ranks of the professional athletes of our modern era. Without a doubt, the most maligned Christian athlete in modern times must be Tim Tebow. Since the start of his football career, he has been one of the most recognized Christian athletes in the sports world, not ashamed of Jesus in word and in action, on and off the field. When he speaks at events, he often encourages people to stand up and act for God in their lives. He recently called on fellow athletes to allow Christ to lead their paths, believing that their lives will be clearer once they follow Christ. Tebow is a two-time national college football champion and was drafted by the Denver Broncos and then moved to the New York Jets. He had high hopes of having a solid NFL career and when this didn't happen, he left the league in 2015. He also played baseball as an outfielder with the Columbia Fireflies of the Class A South Atlantic League, a farm club of the New York Mets. "It's not what you do when you're up. It's what you do when you're down. That's what guys look at you for, how you handle it when something goes wrong. That's playing through adversity, that's perseverance, that's determination. That's all the character qualities you want. Coming back from those hard times, that's what makes you who you are." Tebow called on Christians to stand up for their faith during a "God's Purpose for America” event. He discussed when life is unclear, believers need to press into the power of God and stand on their values. When your identity is discovered in Christ, your identity never changes. Take a stand as nobody else can do it for you. You are always a child of God you don't need to be on the roller coaster like the rest of the world. We are told in 2 Corinthians to cast down imaginations and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God. Today is the day you can rise above the pain, hate, anger and doubt. The Take-Away: Tim Tebow has modeled the second commandment (our reading today) with unwavering commitment. While never easy, and not always met with acceptance or approval from fellow athletic celebrities, often ridiculed by the media, we can see the personal blessing of choosing to bow only to our God and Father!