I recently watched the 2008 movie “Hansie” based on part of
the life of international cricketing star Hansie Cronje. Hansie had a stellar
career as South African cricket team captain, only to fall from grace and face
a lifetime ban from cricket due to his involvement in match-fixing scandals.
Hansie Cronje was a phenomenally talented cricketer and
inspirational captain. As such he also gained lucrative sponsorship deals. He
came from a loving family and was happily married. Why then would he risk his
career and reputation?
I watched this movie twice within a period of a few weeks-
once with my husband, and again with our church connect group when we were
having a movie night. During the second viewing I scribbled a few notes in an
attempt to understand the answer to the above question. Of course, the movie
probably took some liberties with reality, but some of the temptations portrayed
have implications for most of us.
A
Gift
In the movie Hansie is approached by a go between for bookmakers
who offer him a large sum of money to throw the next match. Stunned, Hansie
refuses. That’s okay, says the insider. Here’s a present for you anyway. He
leaves Hansie with an envelope full of cash. Later the bookmakers are seen
laughing, saying words to the effect of “they always refuse at first but still
they keep the money.”
Some gifts are truly free. The grace of God and new life in Jesus Christ
is free for anyone who asks.
Other gifts come with very long strings attached. They can imply
an obligation to the giver. Attractive gifts can blind a person to the motives
behind them. They can be the source of addiction and dependency.
Isolation
As Hansie’s career grows, we see a man living an intensely busy
life, spending long periods of time away from his family, wife and, although
not stated in the movie, probably his local church as well. Cults often use separation from these things
to ensure adherence to themselves. Connection to one’s spouse, true friends and
church community help to keep a person grounded. Ironically it can be the
desire to provide one’s spouse with material wealth that can drive a person to
work long hours or work away from home, when the relationship would be better
served with more time together and fewer material comforts.
Diminishing the
seriousness
Satan is the father of lies, half-truths and harmful assurances.
Here are some of his favourites:
“You’re not doing anything wrong.”
“Everyone else is doing it, so why not you?”
“Nobody will ever know.”
“You’re not hurting anyone.”
The same sort of lies was told to Adam and Eve, and have been told
to all generations since the fall. Satan has only one purpose, which Jesus describes
in the Biblical book of John 10:10
“The
thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have
life, and have it to the full.”
Sin ultimately destroys the sinner, as this movie demonstrates,
sometimes privately, sometimes in a very public way.
Wanting out
God has placed within us a conscience. He tells us:
“No temptation has overtaken you except what is common
to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be
tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he
will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.” 1 Corinthians 10:13
For those who’ve been drawn into sin, there is often a deep
underlying shame about what they are doing and a desire to get free from the
situation. Sin has a way of making one feel trapped, unable to break free. If
it involves others they can coerce or use threats to keep one involved.
Yet there is hope. It may come from the point of despair, but
it is there.
Repentance
“If we
confess our sins, he [God] is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all
unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9
When we cry out to God, the devil is defeated. God
is sovereign. He is faithful to His word. Repentance requires that we confess
our sins to God and turn from them. It also may require us to apologise to
anyone that we have wronged in the process and make amends if applicable.
Repentance may also involve getting help in the
form of counselling. Other helps include connecting with Christian friends and
church community and becoming serious about connecting with God through quiet
times, Bible study and prayer.
Hansie Cronje died in a plane crash at the age of 32. At the time
of his death, he had seemingly turned his life around and enjoyed a close relationship
with God. Perhaps that is the last and best lesson we can learn from his story.
No comments:
Post a Comment