Fight the Good Fight of the Faith

1 Timothy 6

 

In February of 1990, Buster Douglas shocked the sports world by defeating the undisputed heavyweight champion, Mike Tyson. It was like the movie Rocky come to life. Buster Douglas came out of nowhere to beat the most feared boxer of his day.

 

Paul knew what it meant to be in a fight, and wrote to Timothy about it. “But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.”

 

Obviously, following Christ is not for the weak of heart. Like a boxer, there is work, sacrifice and discipline. Like a boxer, there are some things that you need to flee. And like a boxer, there are other things that you need to take hold of.

 

However, unlike a boxer, you aren’t alone in the fight. When you “made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses”, you gained the love, support and accountability of your brothers and sisters in Christ. But there is even more involved in the fight than this.

 

Paul wrote to the Ephesians, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”

 

As followers of Christ, our fight is everywhere. At work, at home, at church, in our mind – it follows us wherever we go. A battle can happen literally at any time. We must be ready. We must prepare through reading the Word, meditating, accountability with fellow believers and prayer.

 

Buster Douglas had one good fight. After that, he never fought the same again. We don’t have that option. “Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”  That someone is you and me.

 

Take to heart what Peter wrote to the scattered believers in Asia: “Therefore prepare your minds for action; discipline yourselves; set all your hope on the grace that Jesus Christ will bring you when he is revealed.” 

 

We must be ready to “fight the good fight of the faith”.