In Rocky IV, Ivan Drago is the formidable Russian foe. But late in his bout with underdog Rocky Balboa, Drago begins to realize that Rocky has something the human iron curtain himself doesn’t have: Too much heart!
As the fight prolongs and Drago becomes increasingly convinced that you just can’t stop Rocky from coming, he turns to his trainer in a disheartening realization and says, “He’s not human. He’s like a piece of iron.”
Drago’s description of Rocky is more like that of a machine, not a human being.
That’s the picture I see of the Apostle Paul in the New Testament. Though human, he didn’t appear human. He came across more like a subhuman machine… a machine that couldn’t be deterred in his faithfulness to the work of Jesus Christ.
This “piece of iron” says things like “Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.” (1 Corinthians 15:58)
In Ephesians 6 he says, “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.”
Paul knew what he was up against. He was constantly under attacks from the enemy. But he never swayed from his purpose and mission. He always had a way of turning the missiles of his adversaries into motivation to take the Gospel even further.
I love this in Philippians 1:12, Paul writes these words from a prison cell, “I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel.”
You know you have an iron will when you come to the place in life where you can face any kind of suffering and adversity with the determination that it will only serve to advance the Gospel of Jesus Christ – even a prison cell!
How can you defeat a man of this kind of spirit? Rocky Balboa is inspiring, but I’ll follow the Paul-type into battle any day of the week. Sorry, Stallone, I love ya and all, but Paul was the real “piece of iron.”
How about you my friend… what are you facing right NOW? Can you face it with the iron determination that you will stand in the face of adversity and declare that it will only serve to advance the life-giving story of Jesus Christ through you and your life.
Determine today to stand in the face of adversity and let your “iron” will prevail. Be immovable in the Lord!!!