One mis-step

So all the buzz in sports land right now is about Tiger Woods. He seemingly did something, or had something happen and none of us know what, why or how. The media is not going to rest until something is found out and it's so funny that way. The interesting thing is that he has the power to tell them it is none of their business and never answer one single question about it. He can do that, but still the media will attack him repeatedly from every angle until they get what they want. That is the way the media is and it is a proper perspective of the world.
As a believer in Christ, when you make a mistake you go from living in teh open to under the microscope. You spend your time under the microscope of the world and they really want you to mess up bad so they can attack your relationship with Christ.
You only get one reputation, and one shot at it. If you have a good reputation and you live the way God is calling you to then you will not fall quite so hard when you do make mistakes. But if your reputation is repeatedly tarnished then it will be very hard to keep it in good standing enough to impact people for Christ.
Think about it this way, you only have to lie once to be a lyar, you only have to steal once to be a thief, and you only have to cheat once to be a cheater. You are forever tarnished with that title. But if you live your life in an upright manner those little mistakes and sins that you do commit don't destroy you.

On the flip side you can't put everything you have in your reputation. You can't control your reputation, you can only control your actions. So focus on what God thinks of you rather than what the world thinks of you. Focus on the things that are important to God rather than the world. They cannot and will not be able to destroy a reputation that is in GOd's possession. They can attack it, they can hurt it but never destroy it unless you let them. JEsus said himself that only in his own hometown is a prophet's name not powerful. He had problems with his reputation and He lived a perfect life. He worried that He couldn't accomplish all that He wanted because of His reputation even though He lived a perfect life.
Live your life for Christ, worry about what God thinks of you and your actions and all those other things will filter in. Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you. Matthew 5:3

Thanks for reading and have a great day!