A boxer isn’t a boxer until he steps into a ring to face his opponent.

Likewise, he doesn’t become a world-class champion boxer by merely throwing punches at a punching bag.

All those gruelling training and diet the boxer subjects himself to isn’t going to count, if he doesn’t take the step into the ring.

Cos in the ring, that’s where the real battle begins. One can expect the opponent to attack and retaliate with punches, unlike a punching bag that doesn’t fight back.

And it is in a real battle that the boxer’s reflexes, stamina, mental and physical strength is truly tested and built up.

The battlefield for our faith

What about us, especially Christians?

Are we really fighting in the battlefield for the faith against the enemy- satan? Or are we just playing it safe and merely punching bags or the air in our daily life?

And what could be worse is that we might be even thinking that we are fighting in a battle and afflicting damage to the enemy when we aren’t.

The battle today for us Christians are in our global marketplace- in the arena of politics, arts & media, education, healthcare, science & technology and business; to penetrate and engage our marketplace where we can influence and transform lives in this world towards Jesus!

The challenge for us

Let’s challenge ourselves today! This could even mean for some of us to uproot ourselves and work/do business overseas for missions in order to extend the frontiers of His Church.

We need to step into the ring and pit our faith to the test. And yes, we might risk ourselves getting hurt and falling, but we need to trust in His leadership and grace for our lives.

For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

2 Timothy 4:6-8

Maybe we might be in the ring, but are we fighting or hiding in some safe and comfy corner to avoid the challenge.

I think we need to understand that there is no such thing as failure, but only feedback. When we fall, get up, re-group, evaluate, re-strategise and attack again and again and repeating the whole process again and again.

So unless we fight, we can never fully experience the power and presence of God working in our lives.

Following the Apostle Paul’s example, we should cease our fight only when we reach the day where we see our Maker face-to-face in heaven!