The Fight

On June 28, Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield fought a rematch of a previous boxing match.  Holyfield had won the first battle, but some questioned whether he could withstand the powerful punches of Tyson again.  It wasn’t the punches of Tyson that floored Holyfield, but the biting of Tyson that shocked the world.  Tyson bit Holyfield’s ear twice, resulting in his disqualification.  Writers took great delight in creating the next-day’s headlines.  Some of my favorites were:

• “Bite Night”
• “Tyson Subject of Biting Criticism”
• “Earmark of an eerie night”
• “A two-bit bout: Holyfield wins”
• “From Champ to Chomp”
• “Requiem for a Chompion”
• “Sucker Munch”
• “Lobe Blow for Boxing”
• “Iron Mike Goes Down Biting”
• “Holyfield Lends Ear as Tyson Self-Destructs”

It seems that Tyson had come to the conclusion that he was going to lose the fight and in his frustration did the only other thing he could think of, regardless of the Marquis of Queensbury rules.  There is a lesson in that.  In spiritual battle, the enemy of the believer will do anything to destroy the life of the one who follows Christ.

If I am tempted to be angry, it is no accident.  If I am tempted to be depressed, it is no accident.  If I am tempted to be anxious, it is no accident.  If I am tempted to be covetous, it is no accident.  If I am tempted to lust, it is no accident.  If I am tempted to be prideful, it is no accident.  I am in a war.  If I am tempted, it is from the launching of enemy artillery.  “Be of sober spirit, be on the alert.  Your adversary, the devil, prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (1 Pt. 5:8).

At the risk of stating the obvious, can I make a few observations?  When in war, take it seriously.  Be sober.  The war is not a joke.  It is real.  One of the reasons people die in this battle is because they have not been vigilant in maintaining their defenses.  It is significant that in this short epistle, this is the third time that Peter has used the word “sober.”  It is impossible to take this battle too seriously.  It is not just a few missed appointments with God or a few forgotten Bible verses, or a ministry left incomplete.  This battle is eternal in its implications.

When in war, pay attention.  That is simple enough, isn’t it?  It is inconceivable for a military force to go into battle without scouts and lookouts.  Yet when we are inattentive to the battle, we are doing that very thing.  In the dark night of watchfulness it is tempting to be lulled into a false sense of security.  “They won’t attack now, it’s too obvious.”  “They came this way before and it didn’t work, why would they try it again?”  “It’s too late.”  “My support team is too strong.”  “I am too strong.  I wouldn’t fall.”  Be alert.  The attack may come in any form at any time.  Wise is the person who guards what enters his mind,  because it is not just an innocuous television show or book or thought.  It is a skirmish in the battle for a soul.  That’s why Scripture says to think about things that are true, honorable (noble, not wasteful), righteous, pure, lovely, of good reputation, excellent and praiseworthy (Phil. 4:8).  These provide the night vision to keep us attentive and watchful.

When in war, be attentive to the schemes of the enemy.  And we are told who our enemy is.  He is Satan.  The Devil.  The Deceiver.  The Liar.  The god of this world.  And he is powerful.  He is no weak-kneed, incompetent “rookie.”  He is a roaring lion.  I’ve never been to Africa and seen a lion face-to-face in the wild, but I’ve been to the zoo enough times and seen enough pictures and PBS specials.  A lion that roars in hunger is to be avoided.  So is the devil who has been hungry for the soul of every man from Adam and Eve to you and me.  Don’t believe and don’t laugh at those ridiculous caricatures of a smiling red devil with a pointed tail and pitchfork.  He is bad to the bone, and having failed at keeping us from salvation, he will do everything within his power to destroy our lives.

And that is the last observation.  When in war, don’t underestimate the objective of the enemy:  it is his intent to obliterate you and/or your testimony.  That’s why it is no accident if we are tempted to be angry, depressed, anxious, covetous, lustful, or prideful.  Those are temptations that come from the pit of hell, and quite simply, they are designed to destroy our souls (1 Pt. 2:11).

We are in a war.  And when one is in a war, it behooves him to wear armor.  Ephesians contains a familiar list of battle armor:  truth, righteousness, the gospel, faith, salvation, and Scripture.  Like the battle, do not underestimate the power of these weapons.  They are critical to protecting us from Satan’s flaming missiles.

Truth.  There is truth.  It is God’s.  And it is absolute.  One of the fundamentals for godly, victorious living is truth.  It is a “divinely powerful” weapon in the destruction of evil fortresses (2 Cor. 10:4).  Satan would have us believe a variety of speculative, inconsistent philosophies.  Protection comes when we take every one of those thoughts captive to the obedience of Christ and His truth (2 Cor. 10:5).

Righteousness.  Simply stated, righteousness is doing the right thing (God’s truth), at the right time, with the right heart.  Being righteous means there is nothing in our conscience that can convict us.  And when our conscience cannot convict us, neither can our accuser Satan (Rev. 12:10).

The gospel.  The good news for the world is that Christ is risen and Satan is defeated (Heb. 2:14).  The two go hand in hand.  Satan would have us be deceived about his end.  That’s why the gospel is so critical.  It is an eternal certainty that every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father (Phil. 2:12-13).  The headlines in “The Good-News Times” declare:  “CHRIST GOES TO CROSS, DELIVERS KNOCK-OUT BLOW TO SATAN.”  Go to war with and for the gospel (Phil. 1:27b-28).

Faith.  The gospel is useless unless it is believed.  And to believe also implies that we continue to believe.  That’s why Scripture also says, “fight the good fight, keeping faith…” (1 Tim. 1:18b-19).  Fighting a fight that endures to the end is founded upon remaining faithful to the foundational truths of the gospel.

Salvation.  Putting on the helmet of salvation refers not only to the salvation of forgiveness of sin, but the salvation that provides our eternal hope.  Live eternally.  Live with the long view.  Another passage says it this way:  “Fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called…” (1 Tim. 6:12).  What is that calling?  It is the call of God to live with Him for eternity.  It is the call to live eternally glorified with Him.  It is the call to live with His treasures and not the treasures of this world (remember who is the ruler of this world).

Scripture.  Scripture was the tool used by Christ to refute the attacks of Satan in the 40-day wilderness temptation.  That tells us all we need to know about the sufficiency of Scripture in the fight.

Oh, and there is one more.  Pray.  Pray always.  Pray spiritually.  Pray with a view to being alert spiritually.  And pray this for all believers and especially with respect to the propagation of the Gospel (Eph. 6:18-20).

There is a fight raging right now.  And it is not as inconsequential as a couple of pugilists fighting and biting over a few bucks.  It is all the forces of darkness, battling for our souls.  Take courage.  God has given the armor to withstand the harshest of attacks and has secured the victory.  And to all those who stand firm in the Lord and love His appearing, there is awaiting in glory the crown of righteousness as a gift from God (2 Tim. 4:8).