August 12, 2013

The Rumble In The Jungle

The Rumble in the Jungle was a historic boxing event that took place on October 30 1974, in Kinshasa Zaire. It pitted a 28 year old Foreman who seemed an overwhelming favorite against the 32-year old Ali. After being stripped of his license and title in 1967 Ali once again was given a chance to fight for the world championship. Ali had told everyone that he had a secret plan for Foreman. A plan strategy Ali later dubbed the rope-a-dope.

As a result, Foreman spent his energy throughout the fight throwing punches that either did not hit Ali or were deflected in a way that made it difficult for Foreman to hit Ali at all. As the fight drew into the eighth round, Foreman’s punching and defense became ineffective as the strain of throwing so many wild shots took its toll. The fight showed that Ali was capable of taking a punch and highlighted his tactical genius, as Foreman struck Ali with hundreds of thunderous blows, to no effect.

No one, least of all Foreman, anticipated that Ali would do what he did, which was to demonstrate so passionately his burning belief in his own ability to meet and master any other man on any terms. Six thousands years ago Satan thought he had stripped Christ of all rights to call this world His domain saying in his heart ‘I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God… I will be like the Most High. (Isa. 14:13,14)

But God told us all, He had a plan for man’s salvation, and the victory would be won, not in KinshasaZaire, but on a site called Calvary. And no matter how many thunderous blows Satan would throw, they would be of no effect for in Gen 3:15 my Savior states “And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head, And you shall bruise him on the heel.

“And now the Lord of glory was dying, a ransom for the race. In yielding up His precious life, Christ was not upheld by triumphant joy. All was oppressive gloom. It was not the dread of death that weighed upon Him. It was not the pain and ignominy of the cross that caused His inexpressible agony. Christ was the prince of sufferers; but His suffering was from a sense of the malignity of sin, a knowledge that through familiarity with evil, man had become blinded to its enormity. Christ saw how deep is the hold of sin upon the human heart, how few would be willing to break from its power. He knew that without help from God, humanity must perish, and He saw multitudes perishing within reach of abundant help.”(White)

So because of Calvary and Christ love for us “I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord”. (Romans 8:38) But Satan never realized what lengths Christ would go through to demonstrate so passionately his burning belief in his own ability and love for us, for

“Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:7,8) So that we can live throughout eternity with Him. So if Christ was so willing to fight this battle on our behalf, what should our responsibility today be to show our love for Him. And how do we repay the one who did it all for us.

Maybe we can show our gratitude by our works, but once again salvation is free, and we must never forget that. While the one who lives by faith is not saved by his works, his works show that he lives by faith. His faith is revealed in his works, and thus he is promised life eternal. Gods work here on earth can only be finished by dedicated Christians who are willing to give it all for the Master.

We don’t have any time to squander it away on what this world has to offer because what this world has to offer will surely pass away but Salvation is Eternal. “The closer we follow our Lord and Savior, the more we care about the things He cares about and the Cross we must carry, as He carried.

If we have little interest in sharing His AGAPE LOVE with others which is, A SELFLESS, SACRIFICIAL and A UNCONDITIONAL LOVE. It may be because we are following Him at a far distance and need a personal, and closer walk with Christ. My Friends Today He is calling you Want you please listen. Want you please focus on What He is trying to give you today.

So once again let me tell you my friends focus, and ENDURE, the journey is worth it 1 Cor. 2:9 is a promise my faith will forever hold on to, until I can see my Savior face to face….. “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived” the things God has prepared for those who love him.

So friends stay focused, remain faithful, love one another and endure till the end and never forget to STUDY&PRAY