The Test of Ray Lewis

One of the neat things about following the stories of others is it gives you a chance to get a clear picture of where you are in your own heart that’s much more accurate than the words you use to describe your inner life.  It’s a great chance to check to see if what you say you believe is matching how you actually live.

Between now and the Super Bowl we’re going to hear a lot about Baltimore Ravens Linebacker Ray Lewis and his now famous “Last Ride” into retirement.  Lewis was the first player drafted by the new Ravens organization back in 1996.  From day one he was dominant and over the years he has been to 13 Pro Bowls and created a persona of being a passionate – even exuberant – football player.

But in 2000 Ray Lewis was implicated in a homicide in Atlanta during the Super Bowl.  Ultimately he pled guilty to obstruction of justice in exchange for testimony against two other defendants. The stain of this night has followed him the rest of his career.

But Lewis hasn’t wasted the years since 2000.  He’s continued to lead the Ravens.  Taking young men under his wing, advising his fellow players on how to live in the NFL spotlight, and continually giving praise to God for the life he has been allowed to live.

In the thirteen years since that awful day.  Ray Lewis has done the best he can to put things right.  He testified against his former friends who committed the crimes.  He settled with the families of the two dead men.  He sought the guidance of coach and Christ Follower, Mike Singletary.  Ultimately he found Jesus and had an encounter with him that changed Lewis’ life.

Ray Lewis’ faith doesn’t always look like mine.  But I can see fundamental change that only an encounter with Jesus can produce in a life.

So here’s the test for us, when we consider the story of this man what’s most important to us, his alleged crimes, his early wild lifestyle, all the kids he fathered by different women?

Or can we see the love his teammates and so many other young men have for him?  Can we see his willingness to be a father to men who didn’t have fathers?  Can we see the handprint of a Savior and rejoice in that?

We all know the “churchy” answer, right?  But check your heart, does something in you say, “But we can’t forget what he did!”?

I’m going to tell you a secret, Jesus did.  This isn’t easy.  You can’t just start doing it. Giving mercy to fallen sinners isn’t easy.  You are steeped in a culture that says the guilty must pay and pay forever.  But Jesus doesn’t say that.

When you can act like Jesus does toward people like Ray Lewis then you know that a real understanding of Jesus’ grace towards you is changing you too.