I am not a fan of the sport: Mixed Martial Arts (MMA). I was only exposed to it once, when I was invited to join a bunch of guys to watch it one Friday night, many years ago. Let me be clear however… I am not against martial arts. I am very much aware of the many good things that it can offer and teach, things like: discipline, respect, fitness, camaraderie, self-control, honor, the list is endless. It’s just not my thing. But, even though it is not my thing, there is one aspect of MMA which I think might be helpful in understanding what it means to turn to Christ.
Tapping Out
In MMA fighting, when an opponent “taps out,” it means that they submit or are giving up the fight. It means that they have come to the conclusion that they do not have the power to win. The only thing that they have the wherewithal to do at that point is to tap out.
Fighting God
When it comes to fighting God, we mere mortals do not have the power win. We only have the power to tap out and submit. The crazy thing is, when a person taps out or submits to God (after hearing the Gospel) by then putting his or her faith in His Son, Jesus Christ, victory is then ironically had by him or her. Jesus said it Himself…
John 6:40 (HCSB) – “For this is the will of My Father: that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”
It is God’s will that all who after seeing Christ (by the hearing of the message of the Gospel) conclude that tapping out (believing) is the only way to win, they will then (due to putting their faith in Him) rise to immortality on the last day. Paul brought this out when he wrote to the church in Corinth…
1 Corinthians 15:50-57 (HCSB) – Brothers, I tell you this: Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, and corruption cannot inherit incorruption. Listen! I am telling you a mystery: We will not all fall asleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the blink of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we will be changed. For this corruptible must be clothed with incorruptibility, and this mortal must be clothed with immortality. When this corruptible is clothed with incorruptibility, and this mortal is clothed with immortality, then the saying that is written will take place: Death has been swallowed up in victory. Death, where is your victory? Death, where is your sting? Now the sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!
The Only Path to Victory
We believers must never stop promoting the fact that the only path to victory is actually through submission (tapping out)…
Proverbs 21:29-31 (HCSB) – A wicked man puts on a bold face, but the upright man considers his way. No wisdom, no understanding, and no counsel will prevail against the LORD. A horse is prepared for the day of battle, but victory comes from the LORD.
Godspeed, to the brethren!
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