When it comes to boxing, most would agree that Cassias Clay, also known to the world over as Muhammad Ali, is the greatest heavy weight boxer—ever. The Muhammad Ali of 60’s was certainly the fastest heavyweight ever. In the May 5, 1969, issue of Sports Illustrated, they measured his jab with an omegascope. That jab could smash a balsa board 16.5 inches away in 19/100 of a second. It actually covered the distance in 4/100 of a second, which is also the blink of an eye.
“He has no business being as fast as he is. I never saw that right hand,” said Bob Foster, the world light heavyweight champion, after his fight with Ali.
Author John Durant described Ali as having “lightning fast hands and a pair of legs that moved around the ring like a ballet dancer. He would float just out of range with his hands dangling at his side as if to taunt his opponent.
‘I am the greatest! I told the world, I am the greatest. You’re going to go down. Can’t stop it. You can’t stop it. Here it comes,’ he would say just before sticking a lighting fast jab and an unstoppable hook.”
I think about people who are perceived as the best at what they do: Nolan Ryan, Elvis, John Wayne, Ted Williams, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Chuck Yaeger, Alexander...what was the rest of his title? Anyway, there is something to be said about the cream of the crop and something that reminds of me of the Kingdom of God.
The Fight for Greatness
Anyone who begins to hang out with Jesus, no matter what kind of history they have, begins to contemplate his their own untapped greatness. After a while in His presence, you become willing to fight for it. The dirty dozen whom Jesus assembled, were men of no notoriety before Jesus joined them. Yet, there was something about His presence that made them all feel like they were God’s favorite and could do anything.
Luke 9:46
Then there arose a reasoning among them, which of them should be greatest.
Luke 22:24
And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest.
Matthew 18:1
At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”
Mark 9:34
But they held their peace: for by the way they had disputed among themselves, who should be the greatest.
Hanging around Jesus Christ, breathing His words of life and thinking his thoughts makes you want to fight for greatness. So why isn't there more of that?
Sadly, the Church is more famous for dregs than for the best wine at the marriage supper. Here in the bible noose of the southern United States, we church leaders have been more about shouting, “You had better not,” rather than, “Go forth.” So we settle and we settle for something that once was, rather that fight for what could be.
Our fight for greatness gets replaced with a fight for preserving history, and that is where it really gets ugly. Whatever used to be a long time ago, religion likes to call that godliness. We must resist the Amish-like temptation to canonize an era and instead tap into how God is moving today. Just like the Pharisees and Scribes in Jesus’ day, we become so familiar with an old move of God, we have no grid for a new move of God and our lack of pursuit for upgrade causes us to miss our day of visitation.
Religion and the Law always require what we can not pay and makes us failures, but the Grace of God always enables us to be and to do what was impossible before Jesus entered the picture. Grace, you gotta love it!
So, The Brewer herby informs you that it is my humble opinion that I am God’s favorite and can do anything. I am also here to tell you that the bug for better is contagious. Once you hang around Jesus, you can argue with me over who is the coolest cat alive. Jesus has a funny way of empowering us all to believe Him for the greatest.
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:13
Troy Brewer Pastors Open Door Ministries near Joshua and even be found at www.opendoorministries.org or www.troybrewer.com
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