Lance Armstrong Learns “You Reap What You Sow”

Over 1000 pages of evidence.  Sworn testimony from 26 witnesses, including 15 colleagues.  Emails. Payments.  Scientific data.  Lab tests.  The proof is overpowering.  Sadly.  Lance Armstrong, 7 time Tour de France champion  is guilty of using  performance-enhancing drugs.

I’m not a big fan of cycling.  But I watched the Tour when Lance was riding.  He was an inspiration. He was mentally tough.  A fighter.  He had beaten the odds against cancer.  His biography tells the story.

In October, however, came the shocking announcement that Armstrong had been diagnosed with testicular cancer. Well advanced, the tumors had spread to his abdomen, lungs, and lymph nodes. After having a testicle removed, drastically modifying his eating habits, and beginning aggressive chemotherapy, Armstrong was given a 65 to 85 percent chance of survival. When doctors found tumors on his brain, however, his odds of survival dropped to 50-50, and then to 40 percent. Fortunately, a subsequent surgery to remove his brain tumors was declared successful, and after more rounds of chemotherapy, Armstrong was declared cancer-free in February 1997.

Now we learn the disappointing truth, in spite of his vehement denials.  Armstrong was a doper.  A cheater.  And a drug pusher.  And now a liar.  And so now the man who was once a hero and inspiration to so many wakes up today with these headlines on newspapers and spread across the internet.

“Lance Armstrong doping scandal is just gearing up”

“A Day of Reckoning for Lance Armstrong’s fans” 

“Protesters: Nike should cut ties with Lance Armstrong”

As I have scanned the various articles, one thing keeps coming into my mind.  The solemn warning from the Bible.

Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. (Gal. 6:7-8)

There is a divine law that cannot be dismissed. Ignored.  Or flaunted. The law of sowing and reaping.  It involves three principles:

(1) You reap what you sow.

(2) You reap later than you sow.

(3) You reap more than you sow.

It is obvious in the realm of nature.  A seed of corn is planted in the soil. Only corn will be the result.  Not beans. Not watermelons.  You get corn!

And the harvest comes at a later date.  Not the next day.  Or the next week. No one rightly expects the fruit of their labor to be rewarded overnight.  It takes cultivation. Fertilizing. Rain.  Sunshine.  It takes time.  Then comes the harvest.

But the single seed will produce so much more than you planted.  A stalk with an ear of corn has about 800 kernels!

The apostle says that principle is true spiritually.  Lance Armstrong is living proof.  He sowed to the flesh.  He has reaped a harvest of corruption.  It was not seen overnight.  On the surface all may look well.  Hints of wrong doing are denied.  And adoring fans don’t want to believe the worse.  But the time of reaping cannot be denied of delayed.

And think of the all people affected.  Family. Friends. Fans.  Sponsors.  A sport tarnished.  An event diminished.  A nation disgusted.

Yet with all of our outrage, it is proper to be reminded that we’re all subject to the same law.  We cannot fool God.  We cannot flaunt his laws.  We cannot forgo the consequences.  Dishonesty. Immorality. Pride.  All have a price to be paid. Our character flaws may not be played out on a world stage like Armstrong’s.  But they will be displayed nonetheless.  The harvest will be obvious and evident.

As preachers and parents and pastors, let’s spend more time sowing to the spirit. Encouraging goodness.  Sharing God’s grace.  Sowing good seed.  Let’s teach our children. Be to them the role models that the Lance Armstrong’s of the world can never be.  Godly guides.  Righteous role models.  Spiritual mentors.

And above all.  Remember this.  Never forget it.  Regardless of who you are.  God is not mocked!

–Ken Weliever, The Preacherman