One More Round

Sullivan defends his title, 1889

  Gentleman Jim Corbett is sometimes called the father of modern boxing. Because of his scientific approach and innovative techniques, he is often credited with changing prizefighting from a brawl to an art. He bettered the sport by popularizing the influence of footwork, the use of the left hook, and even the use of hand wraps.

  However, he credited his success in the ring to not his innovations but to his persistence. He said this famous quote about his success:

 “Fight one more round. When your feet are so tired that you have to shuffle back to the center of the ring, fight one more round. When your arms are so tired that you can hardly lift your hands to come on guard, fight one more round. When your nose is bleeding and your eyes are black and you are so tired that you wish that your opponent would crack you one on the jaw and put you to sleep, fight one more round – remembering that the man who always fights one more round is never whipped

  The Hebrew writer told his followers something similar in Hebrews 10:23-39.  He urges his listeners to “hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering…”. Even in the midst of public ridicule, mistreatment and persecution, he encourages them to “not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward”.   Like them, we may feel like we can’t remain faithful but those ancient words are still true to us today. “BUT MY RIGHTEOUS ONE SHALL LIVE BY FAITH; AND IF HE SHRINKS BACK, MY SOUL HAS NO PLEASURE IN HIM.   But we are not of those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith to the preserving of the soul.”

  The faithful must continue to go more round, knowing those that never give up will be rewarded.