In a story titled “A High School Runner Was DQ’d After a Finish-Line Celebration. Now the Decision Has Been Overturned” published by Runner’s World yesterday, it was reported that Mallard Creek High School in North Carolina won its appeal and will share the team title and 4 x 400-meter relay state championship.
Mallard Creek High School will get the state title recognition it’s been fighting for.
After an appeal overturned the disqualification that initially cost the boys’ track team the 2026 NCHSAA 8A state championship, the North Carolina High School Athletic Association Board of Directors officially voted to name both Mallard Creek and C.E. Jordan High School co-champions. The board also voted to recognize Mallard Creek and Hough High School as co-champions in the boys’ 4 x 400-meter relay.
That disqualification had become one of the most talked-about high school track rulings of the season. Mallard Creek anchor Nyan Brown crossed first in the final relay at the state meet, which would have secured the team title. That was until officials went on to disqualify the relay for unsportsmanlike conduct after Brown raised his hand before the finish line.
The ruling gave Mallard Creek no points in the event and left Jordan as the original boys 8A champion. Videos of the finish quickly went viral, with many questioning whether the gesture matched the severity of the consequence. But now, the appeal changes that ending…
And, you know, while Brown was successful in his appeal, thereby changing the outcome of his situation and that of the team, the Bible is very clear that there will be no chance for appeal for anyone after they’ve breathed their last here on earth.
“Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” John 14:6
“For “whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.’” Romans 10:13
“Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.” John 3:36
You see, there is only one way to the Father and that is through Jesus Christ. All those who believe in Him and accept Him as their Savior will have eternal life but all those who reject Him “shall not see life” but will face the wrath of God.
This is important to understand since many “religions” believe in reincarnation or purgatory, thus eliminating the need to commit to trusting in Jesus Christ as Savior.
But nothing could be further from the truth. The Bible is very clear about that when it says “it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.”
This passage outlines a strict, two-step sequence for every human being: death, followed immediately by judgment. Which means death seals the verdict, with no opportunity for appeal and the moment a person takes their final breath, their spiritual status is permanently locked. There is no holding area, and no courtroom where a person can change their mind or negotiate.
Spurgeon explained it this way…. A man dies once, and after that everything is fixed and settled, and he answers for his doings at the judgment. One life, one death - then everything is weighed, and the result declared: ‘after this the judgment.’ So Christ comes, and dies once; and after this, for him also the result of what he has done, namely, the salvation of those who look for him. He dies once, and then reaps the fixed result, according to the analogy of the human race, of which he became a member and representative.”
So, don’t put off making the decision to trust in Jesus if you haven’t already done so my friend. There is not one person living that is guaranteed another day here on earth. The only guarantee for anyone is that all those who have accepted Christ as their Savior will spend eternity in heaven and all those who chose not to accept Jesus will spend eternity in hell, and no appeal will change that ending.
Heavenly Father, thank You for making it clear that You are the only way to eternal life. Help us to understand this fully Lord so that we would choose to follow You today and every day and never back down from preaching the Good News so that others would too. It’s in Your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen.
Happy Running!
No comments:
Post a Comment