Last night Corissa and I were watching The Tonight Show, which we often do before going to bed, and George Foreman was one of the guests. When Jay asked him about the problems plaguing the sports world right now – the NBA referee that was shaving points and fixing games… Barry Bonds, the steroids and the inevitable breaking of the home run record… Michael Vick and his dog fights – George responded that all of those situations reminded him of a song, which he began his response by singing the opening line of, “Just a closer walk with Thee… what these people need is Jesus. Sometimes good people get off track and they need someone to bring them back in… they should all come to church with me.” And he said it all with this big Foreman grin that was just so genuine.
It was convicting to me because my reaction to things like that is not always so loving and compassionate. I tend to be quicker to condemn the actions and call for punishment, but here is the former heavy weight champion of the world talking with such kindness and recognizing the real problem that plagues most of society, sports included… we all need Jesus.
I don’t think it’s a normal reaction, or at least certainly not typical, to respond in the way George did, but it spoke to me. I turned on The Tonight Show for some laughs and entertainment, but found the Gospel being preached more than I have in many sermons on Sunday morning… yes, God does work in mysterious ways.
St. Francis is credited with saying “Preach the Gospel everyday, and if necessary, use words”, which is what George Foreman did last night. Foreman didn’t preach, but his words and his actions were testimony of a heart that has been changed by Jesus. And actions like that will always speak louder than even the most artfully articulated sermon ever could.
