It’s not shadow-boxing in the parking lot …

Recently I observed a young guy exiting a store in a local corner strip mall, apparently an employee who had finished his shift or was on a break. What caught my attention was his unusual behavior.

He didn’t head to his car to go home.

Instead, he walked over to a car … and began shadow-boxing.

That’s right, shadow-boxing. Right there in the parking lot.

This wasn’t just a punch or two, and then off to other things. For several minutes, while completely oblivious to anyone around him, this guy took on an imaginary foe in a ring that existed in his mind.

I have no idea who won the bout …

It’s one thing to square off against your shadow, quite another to face a real opponent. I learned that fact very quickly the one and only time I put on a pair of boxing gloves. That was when I was in the seventh grade and our phys ed instructor decided to end our class time with some boxing.

Since I was the tallest and one of the biggest kids, I was selected to box with the biggest kid of all in our grade, a husky fellow nearly twice my size.

He was also impatient.

I had barely put on my boxing gloves and had just raised my fists when my massive foe landed three consecutive punches directly to my face.

BAM!

BAM!

BAM!

In that moment, I learned a few things. One was that I didn’t know a thing about boxing, and the other was that apparently I could take a punch! Those fists flew so fast it took me a minute to adjust and figure out what was going on. My conclusion was that boxing was not my sport of choice.

Kind of like the story of when John L. Sullivan, the Irish-American boxer recognized as the first heavyweight champion of gloved boxing, was asked why he had never taken to giving boxing lessons.

“Well, son, I tried it once,” Sullivan explained. “A husky young man took one lesson from me and went home a little the worse for wear. When he came around for his second lesson he said, ‘Mr Sullivan, it was my idea to learn enough about boxing from you to be able to lick a certain young gentleman what I’ve got it in for. But I’ve changed my mind,’ says he. ‘If it’s all the same to you, Mr. Sullivan, I’ll send this young gentleman down here to take the rest of my lessons for me.'”

Like that guy, there was just one thing I really didn’t enjoy about the sport of boxing … someone punching me in my face!

It’s that blunt affront that is why I think the Apostle Paul was led by the Holy Spirit to include the illustration of boxing in this passage of scripture …

“Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing. I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified,” 1 Corinthians 9:24-27.

The Christian life isn’t the imaginary exploits of great victories achieved in pretend rings against shadows; there’s a real enemy who is throwing real punches, with the intention of doing more than just hurting you …

“The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy …” John 10:10a.

There are many Christians who think following Christ is about pleasant conversation over coffee and donuts with other believers and God making life easy for us.

Then, before you know it, the enemy lands a few punches square to your face!

BAM!

BAM!

BAM!

Suddenly, following Christ becomes bearing a cross (Luke 9:23) and the sobering realization that this world is Satan’s octagon, and he intends to wail on you until you tap out or, by the infinitely superior power of Jesus Christ, you prevail.

“The wicked plot against the godly; they snarl at them in defiance. But the Lord just laughs, for he sees their day of judgment coming. The wicked draw their swords and string their bows to kill the poor and the oppressed, to slaughter those who do right. But their swords will stab their own hearts, and their bows will be broken. It is better to be godly and have little than to be evil and rich. For the strength of the wicked will be shattered, but the Lord takes care of the godly,” Psalm 37:12-17.

This is one real fight where we already know the final outcome: Jesus Christ has utterly defeated the enemy! Now He offers you His victory as your own victory, but you’ll have to be willing first to step into the ring and take some punches.

Are you?

Scotty