What makes a champion?
Are champions people who win championships?
Of course, but that’s not what makes a champion. They win because they’re champions and not the other way around.
So, what makes a champion?
I’m an observer, not a wrestler, so take what I say for what it’s worth. But what I’ve observed watching wrestling is that beyond a certain level of skill the difference between winning and losing is will. If you’ve watched wrestling bouts, you know that any wrestler’s advantage can turn in a blink. That being the case, it follows that there could never be such a thing as an undefeated wrestler. If your opponent suddenly gets the upper hand your skill level may not be able to save you. You might be faster, but they might preclude your movement. You might know more, but they might get lucky. If a win in wrestling depends on physical ability, then every wrestler must lose regularly no matter how good they are.
But then there’s Kyle Snyder. He’s obviously physically one of the best wrestlers of all time, but I’m most impressed with his high school record of 179-0.
How?
The difference must be will.
Don’t believe me? Watch this legendary bout:
Sudalev handed Snyder the loss, but he didn’t accept it.
Snyder wasn’t a champion because of a perfect record or because of superior skill. He won championships because he was a champion already. It’s something innate. It’s an inner strength.
It’s the power of will.
An unconquerable will makes a champion
The human capacity to will a thing into existence is our unique and most powerful attribute. Consider this quote from Mahatma Ghandhi:
As impressive as Kyle Snyder’s career wins were, they don’t even register next to Ghandhi’s victory over the most powerful empire the world had ever known. In the late 19th and early 20th century, the “sun never set on the British Empire.” With their ships and guns, they’d subjugated most of Asia and Africa. Who among all these millions of oppressed people could repel their reign? How about a 100-lb lawyer in sandals and a sari?
But where did Ghandhi get his indomitable will?
How can we access the power of will?
By faith.
Here’s another quote from Ghandhi:
“If I have the belief that I can do it, I shall surely acquire the capacity to do it even if I may not have it at the beginning.”
By faith a person brings their experience into conformity with truth.
The great church planter and teacher, Watchman Nee said this about faith and facts:
“We walk by faith, not by appearance” (2 Cor. 5:7, NASB mg.). You probably know the illustration of Fact, Faith and Experience walking along the top of a wall. Fact walked steadily on, turning neither to right nor left, and never looking behind. Faith followed, and all went well so long as he kept his eyes focused upon Fact; but as soon as he became concerned about Experience and turned to see how he was getting on, he lost his balance and tumbled off the wall. And poor old Experience fell down after him.
Nee, Watchman. The Normal Christian Life (p. 32). CLC Publications. Kindle Edition.
Champions wrestle with faith
If you’re going to be a champion in the sport of wrestling, you must believe you’re a champion. In that belief you must choose to win.
But what if you lose a bout? That’s okay, faith must be tested. Don’t make excuses, persist. Anyone can claim to have faith. Anyone can feel like they have faith. The only way I’ve ever seen to truly establish the presence of faith is through persistence. The one who prevails over appearances has faith. The one conquered by them only had pretense.
Faith isn’t easy. It’s a constant struggle against experiences. It’s a choice to aspire above the whims of this vain existence to realize a greater purpose. To have faith is to wrestle with God and humankind. That’s why Jacob was renamed “Israel,” which means, “struggles with God.”
So, take hold of your identity as a champion both in sport and in life. Cling to it through pain and setbacks. Don’t let go until the blessing comes at daybreak.
Wrestle With God 