When I checked the news this morning the top story was top-ranked tennis star Novak Djokovic was disqualified from the U.S. Open after accidentally hitting an umpire with an errant ball. He hit a ball in frustration intentionally but could not have imagined the ball would have collected a line judge in the throat and she dropped to the ground. Apparently this is not the first time this has happened to a professional player, when striking an official accidentally led to an ejection and disqualification from a tournament.
Quoting news.com.au, "The US Tennis Association released a statement saying Djokovic would be fined all prize money and lose all ranking points earned during the major. 'In accordance with the Grand Slam rulebook, following his actions of intentionally hitting a ball dangerously or recklessly within the court or hitting a ball with negligent disregard of the consequences, the US Open tournament referee defaulted Novak Djokovic from the 2020 US Open.'” According to the rules, Djokovic's reckless and negligence required him to be sent off the court and to forfeit all earnings and points even though he did not intend to hit the lineswoman.
This situation shows the unflinching nature of rules in sport enforced by a qualified umpire and well illustrates the absolute nature of God's Law to which He will hold all accountable. Accidentally breaking God's law or being ignorant of it does not spare anyone famous or not from the righteous demands: the soul that sins will surely die. Djokovic is reported to have spent 10 minutes pleading his case to no avail because the rules of the game must be held with integrity for there to be a game to play. The God who created life has provided His laws which govern all aspects of life: what He says is sin is sin, and those deemed guilty by Him cannot question His righteous judgments.
I am grateful God the Father sent His only begotten Son Jesus Christ as a sacrifice for sinners so according to God's justice we can be forgiven and receive eternal life. There are consequences of our choices on earth whether we approve or not, and happy is the man who is approved by God through faith in Jesus. We have all sinned accidentally, purposefully, and maliciously and have no way to defend ourselves from the exacting demands and punishment of God's unalterable laws. Maybe there is a judge somewhere who would have let play continue, but let us not think God because of His gracious, merciful, and loving character is in any way soft on sin. We might sin by accident, but salvation received by faith is intentional. How good is God to make forgiveness possible!
Quoting news.com.au, "The US Tennis Association released a statement saying Djokovic would be fined all prize money and lose all ranking points earned during the major. 'In accordance with the Grand Slam rulebook, following his actions of intentionally hitting a ball dangerously or recklessly within the court or hitting a ball with negligent disregard of the consequences, the US Open tournament referee defaulted Novak Djokovic from the 2020 US Open.'” According to the rules, Djokovic's reckless and negligence required him to be sent off the court and to forfeit all earnings and points even though he did not intend to hit the lineswoman.
This situation shows the unflinching nature of rules in sport enforced by a qualified umpire and well illustrates the absolute nature of God's Law to which He will hold all accountable. Accidentally breaking God's law or being ignorant of it does not spare anyone famous or not from the righteous demands: the soul that sins will surely die. Djokovic is reported to have spent 10 minutes pleading his case to no avail because the rules of the game must be held with integrity for there to be a game to play. The God who created life has provided His laws which govern all aspects of life: what He says is sin is sin, and those deemed guilty by Him cannot question His righteous judgments.
I am grateful God the Father sent His only begotten Son Jesus Christ as a sacrifice for sinners so according to God's justice we can be forgiven and receive eternal life. There are consequences of our choices on earth whether we approve or not, and happy is the man who is approved by God through faith in Jesus. We have all sinned accidentally, purposefully, and maliciously and have no way to defend ourselves from the exacting demands and punishment of God's unalterable laws. Maybe there is a judge somewhere who would have let play continue, but let us not think God because of His gracious, merciful, and loving character is in any way soft on sin. We might sin by accident, but salvation received by faith is intentional. How good is God to make forgiveness possible!
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