WEDNESDAY'S WORD - THE GREATEST - 06/08/2016 - Sadell Bradley - New Life Covenant Cincinnati

The word GREATEST is a superlative adjective of the word GREAT.  Superlative means of the highest quality or degree; an exaggerated expression of praise, something embodying excellence. GREAT means of an extent, amount, intensity, ability, quality, or eminence, considerably above normal or average.  The acronym G.O.A.T. means Greatest Of All Time. In sports few athletes have garnered this superlative. One who did, Muhammad Ali, died this weekend. The entire world mourned a man of unparalleled boxing talent and skill, unmatched charisma, unabashed confidence and pride in the beauty of his heritage, far reaching humanitarian efforts and philanthropy, and unswerving courage in his religious and civil rights convictions. It seems the only battles Ali did not win were self-control with women and his fight against Parkinson's Disease, which brought him to frailty, motor skills impairment, and silence. 

As a child, my entire family would sit in the living room and watch Ali's bouts with Foreman and Frazier. We'd laugh as he vocally sparred with Harold Cosell.  At 14, I met Mr. Ali on the track preparing to run the 200M final at the Jesse Owens Invitational in LA.  I was representing my home town.  He said, "Philadelphia? That's Joe Frazier's town!" I replied, "Yes, Sir."  As the race was about to start I said I would win it, and did. There is history with me and Ali. I'm melancholy (a pensive sadness) as I think about him. As an athlete, I am in awe of his grit, domination, prowess and intelligence in the ring. As an African-American, I've cheered in the stands behind his power-filled words that went into life's arena to fight for rights we could not gain on our own.

As a pastor, and follower of Jesus Christ as the one way to the Father and access to eternal life; all I could do as I heard the news and watched all of the posts, tributes, video clips, expressions of mourning and memories, was wonder...Where is Muhammad Ali now? For all of the money, fame, prestige, and accolades he has, and will continue to receive posthumously... What has happened to his soul?  I haven't heard much talk of that on social media among Christ followers, but I hear Jesus' words ringing from Mark 8:

34Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 35For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it. 36What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? 37Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? 38If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his Father's glory with the holy angels."

 
Were we so enamored with Ali's status that we forgot we believe that without Christ he, like us, was a sinful man on a pathway to destruction and in need of forgiveness? Cassius Clay grew up Baptist, but what did he see? He made a decision not to follow Christ: a choice that God gives, and a right and freedom Americans have for which Ali fought. I just hope there were people close enough to continually tell him about JESUS' sacrifice for sin and show him God's love. (Phil. 2:1-11; John 3:16-17) I pray that in Ali's heart, though he could not speak, it was revealed and he accepted that JESUS is the GREATEST OF ALL TIME! He is far above every power, and HIS name is above EVERY name. (Eph 1:21) He ascended there with humility: by becoming the servant of all, dying on a cross for our sins, and silently but powerfully sacrificing His life for us all (Isaiah 53) to HIM be all glory!