It’s a storyline that far too often plays out in life. A “flawless” athlete, headlined with endorsements and magazine covers, falls from grace. This time it happened to the biggest name in sports—Tiger Woods. In the early morning hours following the Thanksgiving holiday, Tiger may have tainted his seemingly stoic image. The rumors that were flying around about him prior to his accident, and then his silence and “hiding” only confirm one thing—he is human.
Regardless of the incidents surrounding Woods’ accident, it made me reflect on my own life, as well as the lives of my predecessors. I realize that I, like Adam and Eve, often seek to hide from my mistakes. I exert far too much energy trying to cover things up to protect my own image rather than admit my failings, tell the truth, repent, and move on.
For a lot of my life I mistook image for character. I was two-faced. Like a chameleon, I would adjust my image to my surroundings. But over time, people saw through my lies—I was only fooling myself. But then when I truly repented of my sin and turned to Jesus as my Lord and Savior, I became a new creation in Christ.
Today, I still fail daily. But instead of hiding, I seek God’s forgiveness and guidance and move on. Instead of being two-faced, I now daily seek the face of Christ, and in turn emulate His character. That is the image—Christ-like character—that I hope to accurately portray to the world.