“Whether you like it or not, learn to love it,
because it’s the best thing going.” – Ric Flair
In the spring of 1985, the tag team of Ole Anderson & Arn Anderson began aiding their [cousin] Ric Flair against Dusty Rhodes, Magnum T.A., and Sam Houston. Shortly thereafter, Flair, Blanchard, and the Andersons formalized their alliance, calling themselves the Four Horsemen, with Blanchard’s manager, J.J. Dillon also coming on board. Upon the group’s inception, it was clear that the Horsemen were unlike any heel faction that had ever existed. The four rule breakers immediately used their “strength in numbers” to decimate the NWA’s (National Wrestling Alliance) top fan favorites while controlling the majority of the championship titles; and over the years, there would be various incarnations of the group, including Lex Luger, Barry Windham, Dean Malenko, Chris Benoit, and even Sting.
One of Flair’s catchphrase sayings when speaking of the strength of the Horsemen was, “Whether you like it or not, learn to love it, because it’s the best thing going.” He was arrogant, over-indulgent, and brash but the 4 Horsemen were the best thing going. Looking back into the Old Testament, there was another man who would say what needed to be said, whether the people like what he said or not, his name was Isaiah.
Isaiah, whose name means “Jehovah saves” or “Jehovah is Salvation,” came into prominence at the time when Israel was divided into 2 kingdoms – Israel in the north, and Judah in the south. And Isaiah was speaking to the southern kingdom, which was sinning against God. They were perverting justice, oppressing the poor, and turning from God to idols, and seeking military aid form neighboring, pagan nations, rather than seeking God and His provision. Isaiah’s purpose was to call the nation of Judah back to God and to tell of God’s salvation through the coming Messiah.
In Isaiah 9:6, he says, “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, and The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.”
The message was not always well received, as most prophets, Isaiah was not always liked by the people to whom he was talking, but Isaiah cared more about pleasing his God than the people. Isaiah’s message still rings true today, repent, turn from your wicked ways, and follow God. Whatever sins or bad habits we have today, we must turn away from if we are to completely follow God’s call for each of our lives. But we sometimes hide behind being offended so that we never have to come face to face with our own sins.
The truth of the words of Ric Flair resonate with the message of Isaiah, whether you like it or not, the Messiah [Jesus] is the best thing going, and you have a choice to make, you are either with Him or against Him.
Who do you choose to follow today?
For further reading: Isaiah 53:5
