Battle Briefing

by HYLAND, D. T. | Category: For Young Disciples | Sept 1976

Personal combat is a close form of conflict in which opponents meet face to face. There is no no-man's land between the contestants. The sport of fencing is a form of personal combat which is mainly for effect and to entertain the onlooker. Whilst the objective is to break down an opponent's guard, there is no attempt to injure. The onlooker, who appreciates the finer points of the contest, applauds.

Wrestling, as practised in the ancient world, was very different from the modern sport of fencing. Wrestling was an intensely close form of personal combat, because the contestants could hear one another's heartbeats and feel the opponent's breath on the face. So close were the contestants that any relaxation of effort, any loosening of grip, any sign of weakness or tiredness immediately became apparent to an opponent, who then increased his effort to take advantage.

Wrestling was a feature of the Greek Olympic games in which young men demonstrated their physical prowess. It is used in Scripture to illustrate the spiritual warfare in which the Christian is engaged. There are aspects of spiritual warfare in which believers may stand together to witness, defend the honour of their Lord, and contend for the faith. But there is conflict at a personal level when the believer stands alone. There are battles one must fight for oneself.

"Our wrestling", says Paul, "is not against flesh and blood, but against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places" (Eph. 6:12).

The believer also has a relentless adversary who gives no quarter and who never lets up. The believer's eternal welfare is secure; eternal life is his present possession; but he is locked in an intense struggle for spiritual survival in the present life. We can draw inspiration from the example of the great "cloud of witnesses" of Hebrews chapter 11.

"They wrestled hard, as we do now,

With sins and doubts and fears."

In the Greek Olympic games, the victors in the wrestling bouts were given an olive garland. "Now they do it to receive a corruptible crown; but

we an incorruptible" (1 Cor. 9:25). Those who overcome in spiritual conflict will receive the Master's commendation and an eternal reward that will never fade.

HYLAND, D. T. | Sept 1976
For Young Disciples