Watch and Gauge their Actions

“They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work.” Titus 1:16 NKJV

In a story titled “Beijing half marathon winner stripped of medal after video shows competitors allowing Chinese runner to win” published last week, it was reported that the trophy and treasure China’s top distance runner, He Jie, gained at the Mengniu Beijing Half Marathon on April 14 were indeed ill-gotten ones as most everyone suspected. Organizers announced the decision after footage from the race went viral over the weekend. Video evidence from the final moments of the race showed He trailing behind Kenya's Robert Keter and Willy Mnangat and Ethiopia's Dejene Hailu. Mnangat told BBC Sport Africa that the group had not been not running competitively, but rather as pacemakers for He. An investigation into the incident found that four runners had, in fact, been invited by a race sponsor to serve only as pacemakers, but the main organizers were unaware of this… All four runners, including He, were disqualified and forced to return their medals and award money. 

And you know, when it comes to being disqualified for knowing the rules but not following them, Paul, in writing to Titus about Crete's false teachers, was clear that those “who profess to know God” but “deny Him” by the way they live are ineligible and unfit “for every good work.” You see, although these false teachers claimed to be true believers in Christ, their actions showed otherwise. Hence the reason Paul deemed them to be "disqualified." The takeaway is this… although we can never be totally sure of what's happening in another person's heart, we can and should gauge their actions to see if they're compatible with a redeemed life. In this way, we can determine with a great degree of certainty whether a person is truly a Christ follower. 

So knowing that a person's conduct speaks volumes about what they truly believe, let us live in such a way that people know, without a doubt, that we are true followers of Jesus Christ. This doesn't mean that we will be perfect, but it does mean that we will strive for righteousness each and every day--repenting when we do wrong, loving others as we are commanded, and standing firm on the Truths laid out in the Bible. 

Heavenly Father, thank You for reminding us that there are and always be false teachers among us. In fact, this is something Paul said would increase as we get closer to the return of Jesus. Knowing that Lord, help us to spot and avoid false teachers and doctrines that are contrary to the Truths laid out in the Bible so that we ourselves won't be led astray and be disqualified. Help us to shine bright in this dark world Father so that we would lead the lost to You and remain faithful until the day You call us home. It's in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!