He burst onto the scene in 1995 as one of the most highly touted prospects in years. In fact, he was the biggest thing to hit Major League Baseball since his teammate Ken Griffey, Jr.
Alex Rodriguez had it all. On the field, he was as good defensively as he was offensively. Off the field, he seemed to play the part of the guy who had it all together.
Then, it wasn’t enough. Then, he started down a path that would eventually destroy the credibility of his on-field accomplishments and make him into a caricature of himself off the field.
God had given him great abilities, but his quest for greatness beyond that ruined him. As I write this, he is in a legal battle to save whatever shred of his career and reputation he can. But, the verdict is already in: Alex Rodriguez has ruined everything he worked so hard to achieve.
Proverbs 5:11–“…and you groan at your latter end, when your flesh and your body are consumed…”
The young man depicted in Proverbs 5 went foolishly to the house of a woman who promised him everything, but then delivered only pain and destruction. In a moment, he gave up everything. Sure, it was a moment of pleasure, but the resulting pain overshadowed any pleasure he had received.
That’s the thing about sin. It always promises what you want, and for a time it will give it to you. A-Rod wanted to be the greatest player in the game. He was. Yet, in order to achieve that, he cheated, he bought the lies that no one would ever know, that he would never get caught, that he could defend his actions, that people would believe his story.
What are you willing to give up for momentary pleasure or fame? Your reputation? Your integrity? Your health? Your relationships? Your walk with the Lord? It’s all on the line when you flirt with sin. In the end, you will “groan” and be “consumed” by the sin that promises so much and yet takes everything from you.
Lord Jesus, I confess my sin to you, even the hidden ones. Help me to trust you and follow the path you have carved out for me, the narrow one so few follow. Amen.
