The Good Fight

As a young high school football coach, I would sometimes be required to take an assistant position in other sports. Wrestling was particularly challenging but a valuable learning experience. I learned how essential the human spirit can be when called upon.  To be a good wrestler it requires three important attributes. Strength and stamina are vital, but the will to win is by far the greatest asset. I was always impressed with wrestlers who may have lacked the necessary strength and stamina to be successful but stayed determined to win regardless. A young Hebrew named Jacob found himself in a wrestling match he could not win and yet, was the victor in the end because he refused to give up on God. “Jacob was left alone, and a man came and wrestled with him. The man fought with him until the sun came up. When the man saw that he could not defeat Jacob, he touched Jacob’s leg and put it out of joint. Then the man said to Jacob, “Let me go. The sun is coming up.” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go. You must bless me.” And the man said to him, “What is your name? ”And Jacob said, “My name is Jacob.” Then the man said, “Your name will not be Jacob. Your name will now be Israel. I give you this name because you have fought with God and with men, and you have won.”  Then the man blessed Jacob at that place. So Jacob named that place Peniel. (the face of God) He said, “At this place, I saw God face to face, but my life was spared.”(Gen.32:24-30)

Jacob was the son of Isaac the first Jew and the grandson of Abraham a man who lived by faith. God made a deal with Abraham. If he would continue to follow God, then in return, God would make him the father of a great nation (Israel), and Israel would be a blessing to all of mankind. This agreement would be an everlasting contract between God and Abraham’s descendants. Jesus the savior, was a descendant of Abraham and became the fulfillment of the promise God made to Abraham. Jacob like all men struggled with his faith. The enemy of our souls is constantly suggesting to us there is no God, we are on our own with no help from Heaven. In the story above Jacob is facing death in a conflict with his brother Esau. He is determined to receive help from God so he wrestles with his faith all night until God assures him a blessing. Jacob lived through the conflict with Esau and became the great nation of Israel, as witnessed by every person alive today.

The conflicts in our lives can be overwhelming. It's at these times we must be determined to overcome the struggle with faith that God will rescue us from defeat. The great Apostle Paul said it best. “We have to fight to keep our faith. Try as hard as you can to win that fight. Take hold of eternal life. It is the life you were chosen to have when you confessed your faith in Jesus—that wonderful truth that you spoke so openly and that so many people heard.”(1 Tim. 6:12) If you are determined to win the battles life brings you can declare as Paul did, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.”(2Tim 4:7) For more about the conflicts of life read “Beam me up Commander” it's free.