Alfred Nobel woke up one morning to horrifying news. He grabbed his morning paper and, to his astonishment, read his own obituary. Alfred’s brother had died, but the newspaper had mistakenly written about Alfred. This is what it read:

“Alfred Nobel, a chemist, died a wealthy man. As the inventor of dynamite, he enabled people to kill each other more efficiently than ever before.”

That was a cold glass of water to the face. He froze. He was reading his legacy in print. Something had to change. He didn’t want to be remembered as one who assisted in the killings of masses.

So, in the middle of his life, after reading about his “death,” Alfred Nobel had a change of heart.

He placed the majority of his money into a fund to be given to people who dedicated their lives to peace and not destruction. This, as we know today, is the Nobel Peace Prize.

Toward the end of his life, Nobel said, “I believe everyone deserves a chance to change their obituary in the middle of their life.”

Athlete, you have that opportunity right now.

Regardless of where you are right now or what you have done up to this point, the Bible says that God’s mercies are new every morning (Lamentations 3:23). God wants to give you a fresh start. His intention is never to hold your past over you and beat you with regret. He offers a new future instead, leveraging the grace that you are receiving for His glory.

David, Israel’s greatest king, was labeled “a man after God’s own heart” and yet, we see his actions weren’t always in line with that title. However, we get insight into his sensitive heart while reading his confessional found in Psalm 51.

He cries out to his Heavenly Father, “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” (Psalm 51:10)

Notice the word “create.”

Athlete, you don’t need heart surgery today. You need a heart transplant. Ask God to give this to you now, and start living out the life He has intended for you to live.

You can rewrite your legacy today.