As I watched the ESPN 30 for 30 documentary “Lance,” I wondered if anyone might have tried to witness Lance Armstrong during his dominating cycling career, which was overshadowed by his doping. I found an account posted by the Baptist Press in 2013, in which brothers Jedidiah and Caleb Coppenger tried to share their faith in 2006 with Armstrong.

While the brothers were cycling alongside Armstrong on a 450-mile ride in Iowa, they took this opportunity to bring up their faith. “We asked him if he was a Christian and he told us no,” Jedidiah Coppenger, now a church planter in Nashville, recalled. “We told him that we’re not just against certain manifestations of death [such as cancer, which Armstrong had battled], but the whole thing. Since Jesus has overcome death in all its ugly wholeness, we’re all about taking on death itself.” Armstrong “graciously dismissed” their conversation and then moved on. As Mark Coppenger, now on Southern Baptist Theological Seminary’s faculty, ponders, “You can’t help but ask, ‘What if?’ when you think of his opportunity to respond to Christ that day.”

Acts 24 – Repent and Trust God

In Acts 24, Paul is sent to Caesarea to appear before Felix because of his Roman citizenship. Felix was the Roman governor of Judea, who called for a formal hearing of Paul’s case. Even though he gave Paul a break by giving him the trial, he failed to act on his message. History shows that Felix’s heart toward Paul and spiritual things continued to harden. He likely died in his sins. Procrastination never pays. Whether it’s Felix or Lance Armstrong when anyone fails to regard the warnings of Scripture, they are likely to lose the ability to be influenced by it (2 Cor. 6:2). The best time to trust and tell others about Jesus is now.

The Kingdom Coach and Athlete are concerned with responding to God’s Word and heeding its warnings when convicted by the Holy Spirit. They believe it’s not enough to know the facts about Jesus; they must also repent of sin and trust the Savior (John 5:40).

Journaling helps you understand and respond to the Bible. As you journal, use the acronym HEAR to Highlight, Explain, Apply, and Respond to what you have read in the reading plan.

Bible Memory Verse – “…And He [Lord] said to me [Paul], ‘Go! For I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’” Acts 22:21 LSB

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