Come Backs

My favorite sport is boxing-the manly art of self-defense.  Team sports really don't appeal to me.  There is something about the one-on-one, man against man, he who prepares the best and works the hardest wins.  There is also the fact that if you lose, well, there is no one else to blame but yourself.  But, this post isn't about the athletic philosophy of a couple of guys beating each others brains out.  By the way, boxing is Biblical. Check out I Corinthians 9. 26-27)  In boxing there is a phenomenon called "The Comeback".  The Comeback usually takes one of two form:

1.  The Comeback from Defeat.

2.  The Comeback from Retirement. 

Now the comeback from defeat can be pretty tough.  If you are over the age of six months you have probably faced some kind of defeat in your life.  Sometimes we can fail morally, sometimes we get caught with a the wild haymaker known as sickness.  often times when we face that skillful opponent Kid Crisis we lose a hard fought battle and retreat to the misty fog of hopelessness.

However, if you are a fighter at heart, at some point you will get the urge to return to the ring-to regain what was lost and reedeem yourself.  We have a great "cloud of witnesses" in Scripture who had tremendous comebacks after defeat.

     David- moral defeat, cameback as the man ofter God's own heart.

     Moses-after years of exile in the back side of the desert-cameback as the leader of the Exodus.

     Simon Peter-denied Christ three times, (he even cussed!) yet, he cameback as the Pentecost Preacher and Apostles to the Jews.

What did all these guys and many others have in common that they were able to comeback after such dramatic defeats?

First, their comeback was empowered by a Sovereign God Who had important work for them to do.

Secondly, they were not ashamed to ask for forgiveness and restoration.

Third, they learned from their defeats and didn't repeat the mistakes that led to thier downfalls.

Fourth, they cameback with a greater trust and dependency on the Lord. 

The Lord said to Joshua,"Have I not commanded you?  Be strong and courageous.  Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be wherever you go."  Joshua 1.9

 So no matter what or who has defeated you-it's time for a comeback!  If you have sinned, claim I John 1.9 and get back in the ring.  Realize that you are uniquely gifted and needed for kingdom service ( I Corinthians 12.4-27).  You are wiser now, you have learned the hard lessons, now apply them (Proverbs 1.5).  And of course desperately depend on God for all your "comeback" needs (Proverbs 3.5-6). 

Tomorrow we'll talk about the comeback from retirement.