Good morning Grace!

We had an absolutely beautiful day yesterday.  Not only were we able to gather together with our family to study the Word of God, but we were able to get outside, walk the trails, and maybe regain some form of “normal”.  I hope you were blessed.

This morning we woke up to cooler temperatures.  Still, I put on my jacket, jumped into the truck and headed to an 8:30am physio-therapy appointment.  My intent was to come home and write something encouraging from Psalm 139.  However, it was while doing my exercises that my mind wandered off to something Paul wrote in 1 Timothy:

I thought about this…“for physical training is of some value”.  We have been locked away for more than 6 weeks now.  And of course, there is a growing concern for personal health and welfare.  Doctors are talking about the deterioration of individual mental as well as physical health due to isolation practices.  They talk about things like a diminished immune system and the need to socialize.  They say that we are going to have a surge of illness once things are opened up.  Just this morning I heard one physician encouraging people to get outside, walk the trails, exercise but practice social distancing.  It is good both physically and mentally he said…and I agree.  However, I cannot help but notice that no one (other than our pastors) is talking about spiritual health.  Yes, we need to exercise.  Those Sweet Marie bars have been catching up with me!  Yes, we need to be concerned with our mental health.  But what does Paul write in the second half of 1 Timothy 4:8?  He says, “but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come”.

You see, I believe Paul is reminding us that our bodies are temporary.  They grow old…and they eventually wear out!  I’m speaking from experience now…and so we need to exercise.  We need to be conscious of good nutrition.  We need to know our limits.  I now know that I am not superman.  (Nor will I look like him in tights!)  I cannot do the things I did a decade ago, and nor should I.  My injuries remind me of this constantly.  Nonetheless, exercise can help our cardiovascular system, increase lung capacity, strengthen our muscles and help build endurance.  It can improve our mental alertness.  It’s as though we can BRIEFLY hold back time.  Still, we cannot stop it.  Have I encouraged you yet?  The point I am making though, is this: our body is perishable and so “physical exercise” or “bodily discipline” is only of a little profit.

Now, I know that our body is a gift from God and that we have been wonderfully made. We need to take good care of our body (Psalm 139:14).  I’m preaching to myself.  Scripture also says, we are to use our bodies to glorify God.  Still, they are perishable.  They are temporary.  Paul reminds us what is sown perishable will rise imperishable.
And so, looking at this verse, what Paul is saying is our bodies cannot prepare us for eternity.  Ungodliness will only lead to spiritual ruin.  It will lead to an eternity in hell…and there will be no escape from that (Revelation 21:8).  We will reap eternally what we sow today…destruction or life (Galatians 6:7-8).

Devoting oneself to physical exercise cannot change the eternal destination of an individual.  Only giving yourself to God can do that.  In other words, pursuing godliness holds promise for the life to come.  Folks, the effects of physical exercise eventually stop, but the effects of godliness do not!  Soooo…what I am saying this morning is yes…take care of yourselves physically, emotionally and mentally but don’t neglect your spiritual well being.  To care only for the physical is to care only for that which is perishable.  Remember the crown of glory that is waiting for you in heaven.  Run the race to win (2 Timothy 4:7-8) and strive to see all things in light of eternity.

I hope you have very blessed week.  Know that we continue to pray for you and that we miss you all very much!

Pastor Mike and Rebecca