As you may already know, I watch the tv show Survivor. The challenges that thrill me are the ones that have persevere or fail, stamped all over them. In group challenges, the stronger, athletic, and agile players, can somewhat carry the weaker participants when they lag, but the individual challenges are a different breed of animal, highlighting the stamina built into those that hang on, and continue to do so, even while everyone around them drop out of the game. It does my soul good to see strength on display in some characters that look like a gentle breeze could knock them over. How, pray tell, do they do what they do, winning rewards and immunity, by being the last guy or girl standing, hanging, balancing, etc?
I was finishing a half-hour strength training workout and when I checked the timer for about the fifth time, I saw I had one minute to go. I selected abs for my last set, and at about repetition number twenty, I started wondering, How much longer? How is a minute so looooong... and I recalled the Survivor players and how admirable they are, each time they commit to not quit. So I suffered that one minute of abs, and today I have the reward of soreness in my midsection! One moment please...
In one moment, one minute of time, we can make horrendous mistakes that impact a lifetime of living. In one moment, one minute of time, we may choose wisely and in a way, that ensures the future will be bright with a sense of peace and delight.
Jesus hung on a cross, weighed down with the sins of the world. He could have gotten off, being the God/man, but he did not. He endured the suffering, not for a moment in time, not for one little minute, but for excruciating hours. It wasn't just physical pain he endured, it was the grotesque and heinous wickedness we have committed as creatures, all the sick sins amassed atop Jesus, since man first walked the earth, with the sin accumulation continuing to this day. He died for us, dropping down, condescending to our lowly state, to elevate us to his majesty and glory, demonstrating what perfection acts and sounds like! Only God has the power to bestow strength, and only God has the power to resurrect the dead and enliven.
Some people endure suffering for the right reasons and rewards, while others suffer needlessly, with nary a prize in sight. Christian: you will be tempted and tried, you will be cut off and called names, for the sake of Christ: Are you prepared to mentally, emotionally, spiritually, tenaciously grip tightly to your faith in Christ as your Saviour?
Being strong is not an overnight achievement. Muscles of the physical and spiritual variety, require repeated and consistent attention and exertion. Maybe your abs are weak and you need to train them; and maybe your faith is weak, and you need to attend to it too. Chances are good you need work in both areas, and so:
No comments:
Post a Comment