But, even in his failure, he is still teaching us. Teaching us what not to do. Teaching us that our sins always find us out.
Bill Cosby Duped The American People
Bill Cosby projected a persona that duped the American people. He made us believe that the Huxtable’s
were the All-American family, and that he was their All-American dad. He spun his image of goodness and wholesomeness for decades, and we believed him. We believed what he told usand we believed the image he portrayed. Now we find ourselves, like the woman who has discovered her husband’s infidelity, and ask, “How could we not have known?”
Cosby’s public shame shocks us. We are aghast at not only Cosby’s deplorable behavior, but his seemingly unrepentant attitude about drugging and raping at least a dozen women.
Our hero worship of Cosby started to waiver when the rape allegations against him were first made public last November. But we didn’t want to believe it. (See my previous post from last yearwhen the Cosby scandal first broke).
But as the New York Times reported, Cosby is indeed guilty.
He was not above seducing a young model by showing interest in her father’s cancer. He promised other women his mentorship and career advice before pushing them for sex acts. He tried to use financial sleight of hand to keep his wife from finding out about his serial philandering.
Bill Cosbyadmitted to all of this and more over four days of intense questioning 10 years ago at a Philadelphia hotel, where he defended himself in a deposition for a lawsuit filed by a young woman who accused him of drugging and molesting her.
Even as Mr. Cosby denied he was a sexual predator who assaulted many women, he presented himself in the deposition as an unapologetic, cavalier playboy, someone who used a combination of fame, apparent concern, and powerful sedatives in a calculated pursuit of young women — a profile at odds with the popular image he so long enjoyed, that of father figure and public moralist.
In the deposition, which Mr. Cosby has for yearsmanaged to keep privatebut was obtained by The New York Times, the entertainer comes across as alternately annoyed, mocking, occasionally charming and sometimes boastful, often blithely describing sexual encounters in graphic detail.
Cosby Violated Our Trust
Bill Cosby violated the sacred trust that the American people placed in him. They believed in him. Opened their hearts to him. Held him up as an example.
Cosby made American viewers believe therereally were dads like Cliff Huxtable.
Cosby’s fall from grace
diminishes our belief in the common good. It slams our sense of wholesomeness. It makes us think that perhaps there is nobody who is what they portray themselves to be. We are shaken and dismayed to discover that the man we thought was a hero turns out to be an egocentric sexual predator.
What Cosby’s Fall Teaches Us
Cosby’s public disgrace reminds us of three very important Biblical truths:
- “”Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good–except God alone.” (Mark 10:18)
- “Be sure your sins will find you out..” (Numbers 32:23)
- “Be not deceived, God is not mocked, whatsoever a man soweth that shall he also reap.”(Galatians 6:7)
There Is None Good But God
Bill Cosby’s fall is a reminder to us all that there really is none good but God. As such, we should never idolize another human being. All people, even good, godly people who pray and fast and are leaders in the church, are fallible and therefore capable of the grossest of sins.
But we don’t like to hear this.
We want to believe that there are true, honest, sincere people in the world who fear God, and love others. There are. But the danger comes in when we elevate them to such a high place in our minds and hearts that we esteem them as we do God. If we do this, then, when they fail, our faith is shaken. But, if we regard God as the only truly good one and everyone else as the fallen creatures they are, then our faith can remain steadfast.
That is why even Jesus Christ felt it necessary to rebuke the rich man when he called him good.
As He was setting out on a journey, a man ran up to Him and knelt before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone.
Your Sins Will Always Find You Out
News reports are rife with famous people whose sins caught up with them. Jerry Sandusky, Aaron Hernandez, Oscar Pistorius, Tiger Woods, John Edwards,are just a few that come to mind. We know from personal experience that, even though it may appear that someone is getting away with something, in the end they never do.
It may not happen today, and it may not happen tomorrow, but eventually judgment day will come.
We All Reap What We Sow
Of course, Christ’s blood washes away and removes the stain of sin if a believer sincerely comes before God in repentance. But still, there will be a season of reaping.
For example, say a young man robs a convenience store, and after some counseling and a time of prayer, he is truly sorry for what he did. Even though he is sorry, there will still be a court date. And even though he is sorry, there may still be a sentence to serve. Certainly, Christ can soften the consequences, but often there is still a harvest from the sin seeds that were sown.
I don’t know what Bill Cosby will reap.
What I do know is that every time another’s failings are brought into the limelight, I am reminded of my own weaknesses and my own ability to fail.
So the next time you hear someone talking about Bill Cosby or someone else’s misconduct, instead of picking up a stone, try bending your knee in prayer.
“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:” –1 Peter 5:8
“Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.”-Revelation 3:11
Good Job!!!
Yes, I completely agree.