SELLING OUT

To anyone who has been even a casual observer of professional football over the past twenty years, the name Lyle Alzado is certain to ring a bell. He was a two-time all-pro defensive lineman who played for three different teams during his fifteen NFL seasons. His tenacity and ferocity on the field struck fear into the hearts and minds of many opposing quarterbacks and running backs.

In 1991 Mr. Alzado publicly admitted having a form of brain cancer. This affliction he blamed on two decades of using steroids to enhance his athletic performance. These drugs may have enabled him to reach higher pinnacles of glory in his profession than would have otherwise been possible, but was it all worth it? They say that everything and everyone has their price. The price Mr. Alzado paid was exceedingly high. On May 14, 1992, at the age of 43, he died in his sleep with his wife by his side.

Back in 1991, while he was battling for his life, Mr. Alzado travelled around the country appearing on most of the popular talk-shows. He had learned a great lesson in his life and he sought desperately to share his wisdom with others. He realized that he had sold out his health, and ultimately his life, for a few moments of glory on the football field. He realized his own foolishness and wanted to warn others before they followed in his footsteps.

I was impressed and touched as I watched Mr. Alzado pour out his heart on national television. He said, "I don't want anybody to be hurt by it anymore. I don't want anybody to go through what I'm going through." When asked if he thought his former colleagues were afraid after seeing what happened to him, Mr. Alzado replied, "I hope they're afraid."

Mr. Alzado, who was often reduced to tears during the interview, said, "I've never been afraid of anything or anybody in my life, but this battle is harder than anything I've ever been through." The thing he said which most impressed me was this, "There is a lot more to life than just winning, as I realize now; which may be too late." If only the rest of our nation could learn this lesson.

Mr. Alzado said, "Athletes that are taking steroids are trading one thing for another, and it's just not worth it. I would never trade my life for my career. I would just as soon give it up, but it didn't work out that way." Fame, glory, and wealth are not near enough to trade your life for. Yet many still do it.

But what is far more distressing is that so many people sell out their souls for worldly pleasure. I think of Mr. Alzado, his eyes filled with tears, and his heart with regret, as he spoke of his past mistakes. And I wonder how the lost will be when they are cast into Hell. I think Christ gave us a good indication. "And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth." (Matthew 25:30)

Mr. Alzado sold out his health and eventually his life. I saw him full of regret and bitterly weeping over this. But how many more tears of anguish will be shed, and how much more regret will there be, for those who have sold out their eternal souls? But the good news is that it is never too late to buy your soul back. The blood of Christ can pay any price, regardless of how high.