It’s a new year! Did we make a
New Year’s resolution for 2013? If so, are we among those who have vowed
to ‘become fit”?
Perhaps determined to improve both our
health and appearance, we have mapped out a regime of knee bends, squats,
sit-ups, early morning walks, jogs and/or trips to an exercise facility. We may
have even finally uncovered the various pieces of home exercise equipment that
have not seen the light of day for months, maybe even years! We overhaul our
diets and cautiously watch our calorie intake. For a while, we display great
resolve! If we aren’t careful, however, our determination will begin to wane,
and another resolution falls by the wayside!
Without doubt, exercising and eating
properly can lead to numerous medical benefits, and striving to maintain good
health are both commendable and recommended, but what about our spiritual
health? Do we stay ‘fit’ for God? The Apostle Paul says in I Timothy 4:7
“…exercise thyself... unto godliness. For bodily exercise profiteth little: but
godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is,
and of that which is to come.” Paul is plainly stating not to become obsessed
with our physical appearance to the point of neglecting our godliness!
Still, what exactly does Paul mean by
exercise unto godliness? Let’s examine physical exercise. Deciding upon a form
of exercise, maybe swimming, aerobics, cycling, walking or jogging, we begin
slowly building our physical bodies. We begin by swimming half a lap, biking
half-way around the block or running a short distance. Soon the distances will
increase. As we work-out, little by little, we begin to build a foundation upon
which to push ourselves to excellent physical fitness!
Having accepted Jesus as our Lord and
Savior, a sturdy foundation upon which to improve our spiritual ‘health’ already
exists! We possess the solid foundation of Jesus Christ! “For other foundations
can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” (I Corinthians 3:11)
Unlike a potentially shaky physical base, the foundation of Christ is the ‘rock
of our salvation” (Psalm 9:1), the bedrock of godliness! We have only to build
upon it!
As we begin our physical workouts, we
usually incorporate a series of warm-ups in order to loosen-up our muscles.
Christians, we also need to daily ‘limber-up’ by kneeling in prayer, asking for
continual strength to obey, requesting lasting stamina to serve and pleading for
courage to witness to the lost! Simply put, we need a spiritual cardiovascular
boost so our hearts strongly beat for Jesus! Through such a daily routine, we
can become marathon runners for the Lord! In I Corinthians 9:2, Paul speaks of
running for the prize or reward. Unlike a physical race, where everyone races to
be the single victor, every believer can become a winner on the racetrack of
godliness! “…and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own
labor.” (I Corinthians 3:8). No one loses when striving to be like Jesus!
Nonetheless, we must walk before we
run! Sitting on the couch of Christian complacency gets us nowhere! Secure in
our salvation, we cannot, must not, ignore growing in spiritual strength! Thus,
to begin our spiritual fitness regime we must strengthen our daily Christian
walk. We must: walk as Abraham in faith (Romans 4:12); walk in love as did
Christ (Ephesians 5:2), walk in the Light of the Lord (Ephesians 5:8), and
confidently walk in trust (III John 4)! Encapsulated, we must walk in a manner
worthy of the Lord (Col. 1:10) and pleasing to God (I Thessalonians 4:12)!
Certainly looking good and feeling good
attribute to our everyday well-being, but it is transitory in nature, only
beneficial for a limited time. The physical body deteriorates despite our
attempts to maintain youth! Even if we do not exercise and eat properly (which
we should do), and our bodies become a bit flabby, overweight and/or showing the
negative effects of aging, one day every born again believer will receive a new
body, one wholly free of weak knees, bad backs, crippling arthritis, dementia,
cancer or any other physical problems, large or small.
Imagine! We (believers in Christ) will
have perfect bodies in Christ! “For our conversation (citizenship) is in heaven:
from whence also we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change
our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according
to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.”
(Philippians 3:20-21)
Yes, physically we should take good
care of our bodies! But, even more importantly we must strive to continually
strengthen our spiritual condition by daily bending to God’s perfect will and
continually stretching in our pursuit of God’s flawless standard. (Matthew 5:48)
