"We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed..." (2 Corinthians 4:8-9)
Have you had one of those days when you just felt pounded and weary? Like you were the fighter on the mat, down for the count, and you just don't feel like you can get up again? Join the club.
The fighter pictured above appears to be all but done. The referee looks like he is ready to begin the final count. As always, I like to include a photo with each blog post, and this photo is rich in symbolism.
The fighter down on the mat represents you and me. Pounded by our enemy, down on the mat, weary, wondering if we can get up again.
The referee represents the unbelieving world, ready to count us out, laughing us to scorn, mocking our faith.
The boxer standing over us represents our enemy, confident that he has won, daring us to get up again.
But is this the end of the story?
Not by a long shot.
Look again at the passage above from 2 Corinthians.
Like so many of God's people, you may be at the point where you feel like throwing in the towel. You feel like you're just not winning this battle. "It's too hard." "I can't do this." "I'm not making it."... you lament.
However, what the world does not know, is that we have a Champion in our corner, fighting on our behalf. And the battle is already won.
We are the victors.
In Sunday School the pictures of Jesus portray Him as the gentle Lamb, meek and lowly. But the Lord who is fighting for us is also called The Lion of The Tribe of Judah.
Read what the Prophet Isaiah wrote about Jesus—the gentle Lamb of God, (Isaiah 42:13):
As followers of Christ, we have the Book. We know the end of the story. Like actors in a play, we know the end of the script.
And we win.
During all the many times when you are down on the mat, unable to get up, cry out to your Champion—The Captain of your Salvation; the Victor: Jesus Christ. He is the Lord of lords and the King of kings.
The world has no idea who He really is. They think of Jesus as just a person of folklore, a good teacher, and maybe even a prophet if they believe in Him at all. "He was a good man" they may say.
Here is what the Prophet Isaiah wrote of the babe born in a manger (Isaiah 9:6):
The baby boy born in a Bethlehem manger is The Mighty God. He is The Everlasting Father.
He is the Captain of our Salvation.
And He alone is the One who will pick you up off the mat and dust you off, strengthening you, refreshing you, enabling you for another day's battle—which He will fight for you.
"Then all this assembly shall know that the Lord does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the Lord's." (Isaiah 17:47)
When two and a half million Israelite's were backed up against the Red Sea—nowhere to run—Pharaoh's chariots bearing down—certain death awaiting them; Moses, a man whose faith was in God, proclaimed:
"Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever." (Exodus 14:13)
How many times do we try to run in the face of trouble? Or try to fight our enemy in our own strength?
I love what Moses says: "Do not be afraid. Stand still and see the Salvation of the Lord which HE will accomplish for you."
The battle is the Lord's...not ours. He will fight the enemy. And He will eventually remove them from our sight forever.
So, until the Lion of the Tribe of Judah returns for us, do not be afraid. Stand still, cry out to the Captain of your Salvation, and see the Salvation of the Lord.
Stay close to Jesus and trust in Him fellow believer.
—The victory is already won!
—God is Love and Love Never Fails.
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