Opposition

The concept of sports is not a new idea, it has been around for centuries, yes, even millennia. Ancient Greece had organized Olympic games as far back as the eighth century BC, which focused on physical strength and entertainment, with wrestling being one of the earliest forms of sport. Often games were a way to prepare men for war or hunting. The scriptures refer to sports as well. 2 Timothy 2:5 says, “And if a man also strives for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strives lawfully.” And 1 Corinthians 9:24 states, “Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receives the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.”

We can think back on movies that we have seen that have portrayed this such as The Gladiator, Ben Hur, Barabbas, Centurion, Spartacus, Alexander and more. The competitors are shown in full gear, with spears or swords in hand, with their shields at the ready, and may be on foot, on horseback, or even on chariots. The competition was profoundly serious. They often made sport and entertainment, out of things that we would not consider to be funny or entertaining at all. Such as burning Christians at the stake or tying them to a stake and feeding them to the lions. The arena was used for just about anything people could dream up. In games played, there is always the home team and the opponents, winners, and losers, and they were often played ‘to the last man standing’ in ancient times, which meant the loser was in fact dead.

In the movie ‘The Knights Tale’ from 2001, William Thatcher, played by Heath Ledger, was the main protagonist. Not only were the games depicted, but there was a romantic twist to the movie as well. He played not only for honor, wealth, and fame, but to win the heart of the girl. He had grown up in poverty, the son of a blind thatcher, and had left home to squire for Sir Ector, hoping to ‘change his stars.’ By showing courage and sportsmanship in the face of adversity, and winning the jousting tournament against Prince Edward, who was in disguise, he did just that.

Sports that people come up with in the 21st century or that may have continued from the past couple of centuries vary greatly and the list is endless. Tennis, soccer, golf, croquet, basketball, football, pickleball, racquetball, volleyball, bowling, and on and on. That is just a few that involve balls, yet the list is endless. The list would begin again with other types of sports that do not involve a ball, like go-kart racing, horse racing, car racing, so on and so forth, you get the gist. However, with all these games and sports named and unnamed, there will be two teams. If there is no opposition, or an opposing team, there will be no gain, we would just be entertaining ourselves and killing time. We might call it exercise, but there would be no challenge, no victory or defeat.

We see all throughout the annuals of time, these scenarios play out, in this thing we call life. This dates to the Garden of Eden where Adam and Eve were defeated because they allowed Satan to deceive them and take their focus off God. However, we know there was a rematch. On Calvary, Jesus stood in for humanity, and was victorious over Satan, death, hell, and the grave. The opposing team was defeated and put in their rightful place. Jesus declares in Revelation 1:18, “I am he that lives, and was dead; and behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.”  How wonderful it is when you see your teammate holding up the trophy and declaring victory!

David was first noticed as a great man, a victor and someone who was on the winning team, as a teenage boy. There was a challenger, Goliath of the Philistines, who was casting shade against the people of God. David could not sit around and listen to it after just a short while, though everyone else was too scared to even show their faces. He was not even technically ‘on the team.’ He was not even a soldier, but had only come to bring his brothers, who were soldiers, food, at the request of his father, Jesse. He won the battle for the Israelites, the people of God, by accepting the challenge and stepping into the arena, so to speak, that day. He had unconventional weapons, that indeed brought sneers and mocking remarks from the giant, who did not know the power behind the Maker of those ‘five smooth stones.’ An important lesson to learn here is to be sure and do your homework and know your opponent, before boasting too loudly about winning. David was victorious and his trophy was the head of Goliath at the end of King Saul’s sword.

The Book of Acts denotes the beginning of the New Testament Church. It starts out in victory and triumph. Jesus had died, was buried and had rose again on the third day. He had ascended into heaven after appearing to his disciples and others for forty days, teaching and preaching, giving them hope, promises, and directions as to what to do. At the Feast of Pentecost ten days later, he had fulfilled the promise of the Father, which they found out was indeed the infilling of the Holy Ghost. It was a supernatural occurrence, an exhilarating feeling to be on the winning team. After Peter’s lengthy sermon, there were over three thousand more added to the church that day. This was the start of a revival of epic proportions.

With this victory under their belts, they continued to teach and peach Jesus throughout the then known world, with great confidence. People were repenting, being baptized in the name of Jesus as instructed by God, being filled with the Holy Spirit, and miracles were being performed wherever they went. Their fame became noised abroad and the church began to gain momentum, becoming known as the people of ‘The Way.’ Until the opposition got wind of it and began to feel threatened and offended.

Acts 3:1-9 gives this story of the ‘team on tour’, “Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour. And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple, which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered the temple, who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked some alms. And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, “Look on us.” And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them. Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have, give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise and walk. And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. And he leaped up, stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God. And all the people saw him walking and praising God.”  They proceeded to preach and teach Jesus to the onlookers.

Acts 4:1-3 continues, “And as they spoke unto the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, came upon them, being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead. And they laid hands on them and put them in hold unto the next day: for it was now eventide.” Acts 5:17-20 says, “Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, (which is the sect of the Sadducees,) and were filled with indignation, and laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison. But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said, “Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.”  Every time they had a chance they preached Jesus to the people. Acts 5:27-29 & 41-42 continues, “And when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them, Saying, did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us. Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, we ought to obey God rather than men. And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name. And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.”

They began to realize that opposition was going to be with them at every turn, but this did not deter them. It made the team stronger. Acts 4:29-31 tells us their response, “And now, Lord, behold their threatening: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word, by stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus. And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.” We must not let the sneering and jeering crowd sway our game. The coach has already gone over the rules, the plays, and the strategies during practice and now it is ‘game on.’ We should not be reactionary, but proactive in our approach to getting the gospel to all humankind. We are children of the King, we are the winners, and we should conduct ourselves as such, on and off the field, and forge ahead boldly and confidently. Jesus said in Matthew 18:7, “Woe unto the world because of offences! For it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!” We must remember that our enemy Satan has already been defeated!

You have heard of players being drafted right out of high school to play in a sport and often a huge academic scholarship comes with it. Later, they are perhaps traded to another team who wants to sign them on, because their services are no longer needed by their current team for whatever reason. A contract is drafted up and signed with the new team, denoting various stipulations of time or monies involved for the exchange of their skills in the field. When this happens, they are often playing on the opposite side of the team they were formally with. This can be very awkward, but it is doable, if the pay and surrounding circumstances are more favorable.

Paul found himself in this situation. Paul was very versed in the scriptures. He was a Jew, raised as a Greek, having a dual citizenship. Therefore, he was familiar with the lifestyle of both. He had studied the law, was very versed in the Old Testament scripture, and was a very zealous believer in the One True God. He was not a heathen; however, he had not had the revelation that Jesus was indeed God. In Acts 21:39 Paul said, “I am a man which am a Jew of Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, a citizen of no mean city: and I beseech thee, suffer me to speak unto the people.”  In 1 Corinthians 9:19-22 he stated, “For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more. And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law; To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law. To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.”

Paul was originally known as Saul of Tarsus. He also came with the notoriety of being a persecutor of the saints, because by them saying Jesus was the Messiah, it was heresy to his ears. They became the opposing team in his mind’s eye, though they were indeed on the Lord’s side. This should be a lesson for us. We should stop and consider, study, and listen more closely, before lashing out at others. We can be so sincere, and yet so wrong. We must not just be stubborn for stubbornness’ sake; we must ascertain the truth of God’s word before wielding a sword. Remember that the word of God is our sword, but it is not meant to be used to lacerate folks, but Hebrews 4:12 says, “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” It should be used to bring truth, direction, and healing to lost and wounded souls.

Saul was causing literal death by the sword to many believers, and he felt justified in doing so, even thinking it was the right thing to do, when he was stopped short on the road to Damascus and recruited by God to sign up on His team. The tables were beginning to turn for Saul of Tarsus. Acts 9:1-6 tells us, “And Saul, yet breathing out threatening and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, and desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem. And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? And he said, “Who art thou, Lord?” And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. It is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.”

If we do not stop long enough to listen, question if what we are doing is right, and to listen to the voice of God, we will never get the revelation of truth, have direction, or know the calling God has for our lives. After Saul met with Ananias in Damascus as directed by the Lord, and obeyed what he was told to do, his life took a complete turnabout. He became victorious and began playing on the winning team. Even his name changed from Saul to Paul. Saul was a Jewish name, meaning, “asked for,” and Paul was a Roman, Latin name, meaning, “small or humble.” The name change by God was significant because his calling had changed.

He discloses that he was called to minister to the Gentiles, in Romans 1:1-7,  “Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God, (Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,) Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead: By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name: Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ: To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.”  Paul saw his fair share of opposition, trials, and tribulations.

He said in 2 Corinthians 11:24-30, “Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; In weariness and painfulness, in watching often, in hunger and thirst, in fasting often, in cold and nakedness. Besides those things that are without, that which comes upon me daily, the care of all the churches. Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is offended, and I burn not? If I must need glory, I will glory of the things which concern my infirmities.” He said in Romans 16:17, “Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.” 

As aforementioned, we need to be aware of and know who the enemy is. Paul admonishes the saints in Ephesians 6:10-13, “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.”  We have been recruited to the winning team. 1 Corinthians 9:25 says it this way, “And every man that strives for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible crown.”

At the end of his life, Paul stated in 2 Timothy 4:7-8, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.”  Let the same be said of us at the end of our lives that though we had opposition come our way, we fought a good fight, finished our course and we were victorious!