Underdogs.

"We must have military power to keep madmen from taking over the world."

-Billy Graham

"Samson's weakness was his fondness for showing off his strength."

-Anonymous

"History tells us that when a barbarian race confronts a sleeping culture, the barbarian always wins."

-Arnold Toynbee

"In war there is no prize for runner-up."

-Gen. Omar N. Bradley

"The whole city celebrates when the godly succeed; they shout for joy when the godless die."

-Proverbs 11:10

This is the proverbial "Good Guy VS. Bad Guy" story. Only this is not just a story, it's a biblical principle and reminder, especially when followers of Jesus feel like the underdogs.

In the movie "Rocky IV" Rocky challenged this fighting machine from the U. S. S. R. to a boxing showdown. In this challenge, the Russian was the big (He really was big), bad guy. Towering above Rocky, the Russian machine trained with the most sophisticated athletic equipment money could buy, was built like the six million dollar man with all the options, had a beautiful woman companion, and could punch holes in the sides of battleships! He was tough, but he was bad!

Rocky, on the other hand, was the good guy. He was also the undisputed underdog. The first problem he faced was the fight would be held in the bad guy's country giving the bad guy the home field advantage. Next problem, Rocky's athletic training equipment included a log barn, a wheelbarrow, rocks, logs, and miles of knee-deep, snow-covered roads. There was absolutely no way the good guy in the bad guy's country could pull of a victory with the odds so stacked against him. But he did!

Rocky Good Guy pulverized Mr. Russian Bad Guy, won the one-sided boxing match, and when it was all over guess who was shouting, "Rocky . . . Rocky . . . Rocky . . . Rocky!" Everybody in the arena was shouting, even the bad guy's fans from the bad country!

Doesn't matter where they are, underdogs seldom go unnoticed. They are either cheered or jeered but they are always noticed, always recognized for what they are. Underdogs are generally good guys, always a minority, but when the fight is over and they're still standing, most folks (even the bad guys) are standing with them.

The Bible says, "When the good guys do well, the city parties" (Revised Middle School Version). The city parties also when the bad guys go crashing to the mat!

Have you ever seen Rocky IV? Have you watched it with a group of friends or family? I know we are supposed to love our enemies but do you remember the response when the Russian fighting machine hit the mat? With fists raised in victory, as if we really helped, many of us simply went berserk with shouting, high-fives, tears, and celebration.

It's scriptural to rejoice when a good guy finishes standing tall . . . and when a bad guy hits the mat! In my lifetime I have seen a number of tyrants, dictators, and bad guys fall. They fell hard too. When they fell, I also saw on the news, the rejoicing that took place in the countries they once imprisoned and impoverished. There's nothing wrong with celebrating when the bad guys hit the dust. It's okay! Let's rejoice for every victory.

One day there will be a final showdown and incredible victory celebration. Years ago, an Underdog stepped into the arena. Even though he is God, he came in the form of an underdog. He made himself nothing and even took the position of a servant. He lived a perfect life but was tried by a hand-picked court, convicted, and executed on a criminal's cross. I can only imagine the rejoicing of the bad guys that afternoon as the Good Guy was supposedly defeated by the bad guys. The Bible says, "Because of this, God raised him up to the heights of heaven and gave him a name that is above every other name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (Philippians 2:9-11).

In the eyes of most of the world, followers of Jesus are the underdogs. The church is a meeting place for the underdogs of the world. I love the quote, "You can run the race with patience because it's fixed!" referring to Hebrews 12:1-2. Our fight was won where the bad guys thought they acquired victory: at the cross. Hang in there team, be patient, God's not finished yet. The good guys will succeed, the bad guys will fall. And the eternal arena will rock to the thundering sounds of "Jesus . . . Jesus . . . Jesus . . . Jesus!" Some will be shouting because they have no choice. Some will be shouting because he was their choice.

Celebrate!