The Greatest Of All Time

Muhammad Ali, formerly knowns as Casius Clay, died yesterday. The three time heavy weight boxing champion was flamboyant. He often touted his own good looks and talents. Ali proclaimed himself the greatest of all time.

I watched several tributes about his accomplishments, his convictions, and conversion to Islam. Much was made about His self confidence and well as his religious conviction. The more I watched two very sad things came to mind.

First, Ali said he was the greatest of all time. I could not help but think of how wrong he was. It is true he was a fabulous boxer and a great showman. He made a lot of money. Some say he had the most recognizable face in the whole world. Yet, he was mistaken. He was not the greatest of all time. Exit stage left Ali and enter center stage Jesus Christ. Philippians 2:9-11 (NASB) 
⁹  For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name,
¹⁰  so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
¹¹  and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Soon Ali will fade in the pages of history like other celebrities. He will be forgotten except by a few. A generation will arise who knows not Ali. They will never see him box except in videos. They will hear his soundbites but never see the full interviews. His name is spoken a great deal in these days in the aftermath of his death. In a matter of months people will forget. They always do. 

Jesus name will never be forgotten. To the end of time someone somewhere will always speak His name, praise His name, and pray in His name. One day every person, Christian or Muslim will confess that Jesus is Lord and every knee will bow. 

That brings me to the other things that saddened me about Ali. He devoted his life to a religious lie. He converted to Islam denying the truth of Jesus Christ. He believed the tenants of the Muslim faith. Ali fell for deception. Here is the truth. John 14:6 (NASB) 

⁶  Jesus *said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.

Ali perished without Christ. He is doomed to everlasting torment. That is sobering. All his boasting, all his victories, all his fame, and all his bragging about being the  greatest of all time did nothing for Him when he faced Jesus as the Righteous Judge. A sad reminder of things of eternity.