“Where were you? They called your name several times. Your heeler was in the box waiting on you. Everyone was franticly looking for you. They turned you out, man.”
I felt sick to my stomach as I heard these comments. I didn’t even want to get in the next roping. I felt like I had made the biggest blunder of my life. I had let my heeler down, and cost him money. I didn’t know where to go, who to talk to, or who to avoid, everyone had heard them calling.
I had been in a low numbered roping. Our time on two steers was long, with a barrier and a leg. I didn’t think that we had the slightest chance of getting a call back. But as sometimes happens, many of the high call teams missed and it fell apart so we got a call back.
I had ridden back to the trailer to get a drink and water my horse. I was hot, tired and frustrated with the way my roping was going. Now after hearing that I had been turned out, I felt guilt, shame and embarrassment along with it. There was no one to blame but myself. I had been self-focused and unaware of my responsibility to know what was going on. I had let my partner down and there was nothing I could do about it. I offered to pay back his entry fee. He declined and said, “Don’t worry about it.” I learned a good lesson that day and the consequences weren’t too serious.
But there is a far more serious, more permanent, finality that comes at the end of life. We must be aware of how our sin affects our relationship with God. If we die without putting our faith and trust in Jesus Christ as our Savior, who forgives us of our sin, we will face an eternity without Him. What a terrible moment that would be. To hear Him say “You didn’t pay attention. Depart from me, I never knew you.” (Matthew 7:23)
The good news is that it’s not too late! His forgiveness of our sin and His gift of salvation is still freely offered. The cross reveals the seriousness of our sin and the great price of God’s love for us. Be aware, stay focused. Rope great! Don’t get turned out!
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