When considering the World Cup ongoing across South Africa, there is always a debate and argument over which are the best goals, but sometimes what occupies our discussions are the less seemly moments, and there are always a few.
Four years ago, it was Zinedine Zidane of France head butting an opponent in the chest in the Final, and it was to be his final game for his country.
This should have been one of his final moments but he was sent off.
We can fall too at the final hurdle.
Sin can make us do terrible things.
Lack of control can cause us to stumble and blow it all away.
Even the best need to remember this.
How many business men in particular have fallen for temptation with that young secretary in the office and within a few moments they have blasted everything they have worked for a represented in their family? Some push Almighty God away.
Others want nothing to do with God and what God has said in His holy Word, and that is most unwise.
None of us is right and righteous before God.
Sin separates us from God and the bridge over that great gulf is Jesus Christ.
He is the only bridge there is.
There is no other way of being reconciled except through Jesus Christ.
There comes that point where a man has to return to the true faith.
When you look around at all the teaching in the modern church, how much true faith can you find? Before we tackle being born again, we must go further back to get clear on what was the reason for Christ going to the Cross, which, I might add, is missing from most modern teaching.
Why did Christ have to die on the Cross? The most common answer I get when I ask people is to "save us" but that brings about the question as to what is He saving us from? When this question is asked most people reply from hell or the devil, which is not true at all! Jesus came to save us from the wrath or anger of God! But wait a minute, isn't God loving and kind and full of grace and mercy? Yes, that is why He sent Jesus, to shed his precious blood on the Cross, because without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sin! This is not popular, but we must not look for popularity, but hold onto truth.
One day we will stand before God and give an account for our life and being popular will mean nothing on that day.
I believe that the reason most do not share their faith is that they are not sure what their faith is.
If all you know is to tell people to ask Jesus into your heart and you will be saved, then you don't have the true faith and can't share true salvation.
There is nowhere in the whole of the Bible where it says to invite Christ into your heart and you will be saved.
This is a man-made doctrine that will not stand.
It is a convenient message designed to make men feel better about themselves.
How did people come into the early Church of Jesus Christ? Check it out in the book of Acts.
When they came to believe in Jesus, they repented of their sins and turned to God.
They were baptised in water and they received the Holy Spirit.
And once you are in seek to remain faithful to God right to the very end of your life.
Don't blow it.
Zidane's career was one of the finest but it had a very sad conclusion.
Do not do something that wrecks all you have sought to do and build up.
Sin can ruin and influence every area of life.
Almighty God wants to influence and bless every area of our life.
We have to choose and seldom is it an easy choice.
In Jesus, there is mercy and grace and forgiveness and love.
That may not sound very manly, but let me reassure you, it us.
Jesus Christ was the most manly man every to walk this earth and it takes guts and courage to follow Him.
Sandy Shaw