Back
in September Mark and I joined Hosa gym across the street in the opposite
apartment complex. I have developed a gym routine of working the circuit of 14 weight
machines plus one of three aerobic machines after using the weights. We use
machines that work our legs, abs, and arms. When I first started, I could
hardly lift any weight. I would put the arm curl machine on 10 pounds and maybe
do 3 reps. At first I sat on one machine to push the bar with my feet and could
push only about 30 pounds. We have a machine where we lay on our stomachs and
kick back to lift the weights. I think I started at 40 pounds. Those first few
days were hard; I could barely lift any weights. When I woke up the next
morning, I knew I had used muscles that hadn’t been used in a long time. After
a few days of that, I was sore, not in pain, but feeling like a massage or hot
tub would feel really good. Because I
felt so much better physically and mentally after exercising, I kept at it. Gradually I discovered I could do more reps
without any trouble. Eventually I added more weight with fewer reps. Then more
reps at the higher weight. Wait, what’s happening here? Am I getting stronger?
Is my body getting used to working out? I’m not tired and sore anymore. Now
after six months, I’ve added more weight and increased reps on certain
machines. Some are still difficult to do but I keep trying. Mark thinks my body
is changing. Yes, sometimes my muscles feel tighter and firmer than I remember,
but I don’t see any difference.
Then
it hit me. Physical exercise has a spiritual parallel. As we exercise our
bodies, they change, they develop. Isn't this true of our spirits and hearts as
well? It takes hard work, stretching, uncomfortableness, and effort to exercise
our faith in Jesus. If life is easy with no hardships, what's the point of
trusting Jesus? If we don't have sin, why do we need a Savior? Trials reveal
our need. They reveal our idols. What things do I feel I must have to live?
What can't I live without? Certain things,
or something different? What if we made our relationship with Jesus the
priority? What would that look like? Would it look like what we think? What
does life look like when I can't see the end?
As I
pondered the parallels, I noticed that we often don’t see our own spiritual
growth. We don’t feel like we are
changing, growing. But others see it. Walking by faith in Jesus Christ often
looks like walking blindly, but it’s not. It’s putting our trust in the One who
is completely trustworthy and obeying where He leads us. That might mean
difficult times, suffering, not seeing the results yet. But growth in Christ
comes through perseverance, faithfulness, and one-step-in-front-of-the-other
days. It helps to soak in the Word of God with passages like the following
from 2 Peter 1:
3 His
divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness,
through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, 4 by
which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that
through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from
the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. 5 For this
very reason, make every effort to supplement
your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, 6 and
knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and
steadfastness with godliness, 7 and
godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. 8 For if these qualities are yours and
are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the
knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For
whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having
forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. 10 Therefore,
brothers, be all the more diligent
to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. 11 For in this way there will be richly provided for
you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. (Emphases mine)
