Do not follow the crowd

"For we must all stand before Christ to be judged. We will each receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in this earthly body." 2 Corinthians 5:10 NLT

A half marathon in China made international news last week when, according to the Chinese state news agency Xinhua, 237 entrants were caught on video by a traffic camera running through bushes to cut 2 to 3K from the full half marathon distance. Twenty-one other runners in the race were disqualified as well for cheating in other ways. Race organizers later told Xinhua in a statement, "We deeply regret the violations that occurred during the event. Marathon running is not simply exercise, it is a metaphor for life, and every runner is responsible for him or herself."

And you know, while many of the runners who cut the course might say they were simply, "following the crowd," their excuse won't relieve them from the consequences of their actions (a two-year ban from the event). Just as the same excuse won't relieve us from the consequences of our sin. The Bible clearly tells us that "we must all stand before Christ to be judged." - not as part of a crowd but as individuals and therefore individually accountable for our actions.

So if you find yourself making excuses for your sin today by saying, "Everybody is doing it," remember that each one of us "will receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in this earthly body." And no excuse for engaging in deception or immorality, whether done alone or as part of "the crowd," will be minimize the consequences.

Heavenly Father, thank You for the reminder that there are eternal consequences for our actions and that just because we may not see them in our lifetime, we will be judged for our sin no matter how we try to excuse it. Knowing that, may each one of us make the choice to be set apart and live for You today. It's in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!!!

Living for Jesus - Third Day
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hfT26MvusbE