As a child, my father would sometimes watch boxing matches at night. I distinctly remember the announcers in Atlantic City or other places who would get up and say in their most entertaining voices, “Are you ready to rumble?” Boxing was not a sport I was fond of, but watching it was better than going to bed, so I’d stay up and watch with dad. I think my eyes were covered for most of the matches as each boxer would give his best punches to try to send the other one down to the canvas with a knockout blow. I remember the gasps in the crowd when one fighter would go down and the referee would begin the count. Since I didn’t know much about the boxers, I usually rooted for whoever it looked like might be losing. When that fighter was down, everything in me willed for him to get up and keep fighting. I knew no matter how hard he had fought in the previous rounds, if he didn’t get up he would lose the fight.
Now that I am an adult, I can’t say that I like boxing any more than I did when I was a child. But you only have to live for a little while to start seeing there are some definite correlations between life and a boxing match. The Apostle Paul in I Corinthians 9 used boxing as a life analogy.
“…I do not box like one beating the air and striking without an adversary. But [like a boxer] I buffet my body [handle it roughly, discipline it by hardships] and subdue it, for fear that after proclaiming to others the Gospel and things pertaining to it, I myself should become unfit [not stand the test, be unapproved and rejected as a counterfeit]” (I Corinthians 9:26-27).
Some days I really wish that life was more like a game of miniature golf than a boxing match! Time and maturity have taught me that the adversary I face on a daily basis is real and that every “punch” I throw has to count. I have learned that qualities such as strength and endurance are not just desirable, but necessary if I am to complete my course in Him.
Earlier in the I Corinthians 9, Paul talked of how he became all things to all men so that he might by all means save some. In other words, just like in the boxing ring, Paul had to constantly adapt to whatever situation he was dealing with in order to be used by God to win souls and fulfill his destiny. Boxers have many styles of foot movement, body weaving and the like in order to adapt to the fighter they are currently contending with. Every fight is different and requires a different strategy. What worked last time may not work in the ring today. It’s a joy to know that I have a personal trainer and teacher in my corner, the Holy Ghost, who is ever ready to reveal to me what strategy will give me a win in any given match. As I return to my corner in between rounds, He is there waiting with comfort, healing ointments and advice on how to successfully beat the adversary. He is truly a “very present help in trouble.”
In boxing, it’s also helpful to know the rules so that you can identify low blows and unfair punches. There are certain punches my contender has no right to throw, and I have 66 books of Scripture to back me up when a low blow is thrown. At any time I can go to the Father with the Word and challenge the blow I’ve been dealt by the enemy. At my request and the presentation of His Word, God will come to my defense.
An excellent example of this is found in Acts 4, when the Apostles were dealt a low blow. The enemy attacked their right to preach the Gospel and heal the sick by stirring up the local government against them. As soon as they were let go, they went back to “their corner” and had a serious consultation about what was taking place. They went to Father God in prayer and challenged this low blow that had been thrown.
“And now, Lord, behold their threatening and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word, By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus” (Acts 4:29-30).
What happened? Their challenge was upheld!
“And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness” (Acts 4:31).
Too often, as believers the things that are holding us back are at our own allowing. God has provided great and precious promises in His Word that are to form a hedge of protection around His people. Provided we are walking in obedience, we must not allow the enemy to cross those boundaries and wreak havoc in our live and families. We must recognize the enemy’s devices and devote ourselves to the Word and prayer in that area until we gain complete victory.
As many of you, I head into 2010 with a few cuts and bruises, and some wounds still healing, and yet I am excited about the hope of new direction and some major victories that have been won. Perhaps there are some rounds where you faltered or don’t feel you gave your best. Maybe you’ve been dealt some low blows that sent you reeling, or even down to the canvas. There may have been times when it seemed like the crowd wasn’t on your side. No matter what, we have to remember what is most important – we’re still standing.
In the words of the great movie fighter, Rocky Balboa, “…it ain’t about how hard you hit, it is about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward, how much can you take and keep moving forward. That’s how winning is done!”
Like that fighter in the ring, as long as he can get back up and keep standing, he’s still in the fight! Don’t let the devil or anyone else count you out! Your life and your destiny matter to God, to the Body of Christ and to the world. We are counting on you to keep going…keep praying…keep loving…keep being faithful…keep believing. The next time the enemy threatens you with a tough blow, hold fast to the Word, say a prayer, and then look him in the eye and remind him, “I’m still standing!”