The Fight of Your Life
As we continue through this life, we no doubt endure a number of conflicts and struggles in various areas. There are those who face disease or injuries that threaten their lives. Many who have been afflicted with the COVID-19 virus have felt this way. Others have major physical impairments that make life itself seem like an unfair contest. Some who face this kind of struggle consider it the “fight of their lives”, yet strive to continue on.
But if we look up the word “struggle” and the word “strive”, perhaps we can see that the “fight of our life” is the one that has the greatest impact on our souls. Struggle defined: make forceful or violent efforts to get free of restraint or constriction. We all are to “struggle” to be free of sin. We are reminded of this in 1Corinthians 9:25-27 as the Spirit had Paul write. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. 26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: 27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway. To walk this life and be favorable to God, we must fight with all that is in us to keep ourselves from sin.
In 1Timothy 6:11-12 we read where the young preacher was told what to avoid as well as well as that for which he (and we) are to strive. The definition of strive in this sense is: make great efforts to achieve or obtain something. But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. 12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses. Friends, for each of us, this is the fight of our life. Our eternal life depends upon it.
But do we really stop and consider that where we will spend our “eternal life” is totally dependent on what we do in this life? Based on the way some folks live, it seems they don’t realize this. Most, upon reading this will apply this to those of the world. Members of the Lord’s church also need to consider how this applies to us as well. In 2Corinthians 5:10 we read a passage that was written to a congregation of the Lord’s church. The “we” found in this verse means “Christians”. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
The “fight of our life” takes place “in this life”. In Ecclesiastes 9:10, the Spirit had the wise man Solomon pen this for our instruction. We are to be busy in this life to make preparation for that which is beyond. Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest. And per Hebrews 9:27, it is a fact that our time in this life will come to an end. And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
One of the worst things I can think of, is having to fight for, or contend for something on the “spur of the moment”. We have the advantage in the “fight of our lives, although we don’t know how long our lives will progress beyond the present. The Spirit had James remind us of this in the general epistle that bears his name. Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: 14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. (James 4:13-14) The reason we have the advantage, is that God has told us in His Word how to prepare for that which is beyond this life. However, we MUST start now because we don’t know how much time we might have.
Some have objected by saying: “But, aren’t we to do what we love?” We are, but we are also to be careful as to “what we love” while here in these lives as this determines the paths we will walk. In 1John 5:3 we can read what the Spirit had the beloved apostle John write. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. The word grievous means burdensome. Therefore, it is never burdensome to do the Commandments of God, if we love Him.
The only way to take advantage of what God has offered is to do so in accordance to His terms. In His Word, He has told us what to do to prepare for the fight of our lives. 1) Hear the Word–Romans 10:17 2) Believe that Jesus is the Son of God–John 8:24 3) Repent of sins–Acts 17:30 4) Confess Jesus before man–Acts 8:37 5) Be Baptized into Christ – 1Peter 3:21, and then remain prepared for that final stage of your existence. This is where so many lose the “fight of their lives”. Part of God’s plan of Salvation is that after we have done these things, we are to “remain faithful until death”. We can read of the sad status of those who lose this fight in 2Peter 2:20.
Don’t lose the fight of your life by not beginning, or by not finishing. God has provided us the time, the means and the reward. The rest is up to you.
Dennis Strickland – Mooresville church of Christ
