Seeking God Daily

Like millions of other curious people I watched and listened as Tiger Woods publicly admitted to being unfaithful to his wife through numerous affairs. He repeatedly said, “I’m sorry”, and that he accepted full responsibility for his unacceptable behavior. His owning up to his regretful actions and “entitlement” mindset seemed to be heartfelt and sincere but as his wife, Elin, told him, his real apology will be seen in his behavior and not in mere words.

As soon as Tiger concluded his statement the media circus began. His every word was scrutinized, analyzed, criticized, dissected, and reinterpreted a thousand times over on TV and radio, in newspapers and magazines, and in online articles and blogs (I guess I just indicted myself). Many of the people I heard and read spoke and wrote words as if they had an inside track to Tiger’s heart, his motives, and his degree of remorse. They were already forming conclusions on the outcome of Tiger’s indiscretions on his personal life, family, and golf career.

I sure hope and pray that what we all heard was indeed the truth and that Tiger gets his life and his families’ life mended and that a once adoring world would have reason to truly believe in him and marvel at his special gift. Who really knows another person’s heart? Who really knows if what they see is the genuine article? Will people, including Tiger’s family, be able to genuinely forgive and forget? What kind of behavior is Elin looking for that will indicate that Tiger has significantly changed so she can, in good conscience, accept his apology? What can a Christian learn from this fiasco?

The truth of the matter is:

• Only the God of the Bible knows for sure what is in a person’s heart. He understands all of our motives and is a true barometer of our remorse and repentance. (John 3:24, 25; Matthew 9:4)
• Only the God of the Bible can completely forgive and forget sinful thoughts and actions. (Isaiah 43:25;  Hebrews 8:12)
• Only the God of the Bible can give an imperfect human being the capacity to completely forgive and forget. (Matthew 6:14, 15; Ephesians 4:32)
• Only the God of the Bible accepts our heartfelt apologies without expecting our behavior to change first. (Titus 3:4-7; Ephesians 2:8-10)
• Only the God of the Bible can bring true change in a person’s life and that change takes place when a person surrenders their life to Jesus Christ. (Galatians 5:16-25; 2 Peter 1:3, 4)

The truth of the matter, Tiger, is that cravings for anything or anyone that excludes Jesus Christ from their life will cause an unhappy and pointless search for security. The only way to consistently stop following every impulse and learn restraint is “to fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2).

Join me, Christian brothers and sisters, in praying for Tiger to know the truth that will set him free (John 8:32, 33).