The great thing about having my own blog is that I can talk about whatever I want…and for those of you that know me on a personal level, You know that I am a huge advocate of living a healthy and active lifestyle. I work out just about everyday, I eat right (most of the time), and I try my best to live a healthy and physically fit life because I believe it’s important.
The overall benefits of living healthy are incalculable and I don’t think that is really something that is even debatable at this point. That is why I DO WHAT I DO here on this site. That is why I endorse the products that I do, because honestly, they’re the BEST and I am passionate about that. This passion for health and fitness is really my motivation towards ENCOURAGING other people to dedicate to their fitness as well.
Having said all that, I want to share with you if I can that there is MUCH MORE TO LIFE THAN JUST FITNESS…I know this might come across as a shock and maybe even counterproductive since my whole site is telling you to “dedicate 2 fitness” but stick with me here for a moment and I’ll try my best to explain.
I want to not only share with you the importance and overall application of physical health here, but spiritual health as well.
Being a Christian, I believe that the Bible is the authority for all faith and practice in the life of a believer and the Bible informs us “that physical training and exercise has some value, but only for a little while or a “season.” On the other hand, Godliness has value in all things for not only the present life but for the life to come as well. (1 Timothy 4:8) This verse shows us that there is some value in exercise and living healthy for the present time, but HOW MUCH MORE important it is to be focused on our relationship with God because it is our spiritual health that we will have to rely on into eternity.
For many of us, we invest in our physical health by working out, eating right, taking supplements, etc (I am one of those)…but how are we investing in our spiritual health? The cold hard truth is that from the day we are born, we officially start to die. I am not trying to be negative here, but our clocks are ticking and we may slow it down to a degree by our best efforts, but we will never be able to stop it, so I feel it’s so important that I share with you that there really is MORE THAN FITNESS out there.
This blog was never designed to be an exhibit in vanity or a narcissistic outlet for myself. Everything I do on this site is really to share. Sharing things that I would consider helpful to people. Of course, I have to pay the bills so it is a business for me, but at the end of the day it is sharing and helping people or at least I hope it comes across that way because that truly is the intent.
Honestly, I just really love to share with people! When I see a great movie, I tell people about it so they can see it. When I eat at a delicious restaurant, I tell people about so that they can try it. When I find ways to get fit, I share that too because I want others to enjoy a healthy life as I am and finally, when I find such a treasure like I have found in the gift of grace that comes from God alone through faith in Jesus Christ, I WANT TO SHARE that as well because the truth is, I am MOST concerned about people’s spiritual health.
If I wasn’t concerned, I would never put this on this site. You can imagine that by saying these types of things, it would not be considered by most as a good “business decision” to do so, but that is not really my concern – my concern is helping people!
So what does the Bible say about our spiritual health?
No matter how fast or physically strong we can ever be, the Bible says that we (all people) are just “like grass” (Isaiah 40:7) that eventually we will dry up and wither away. The Bible also tells us that we are just “like vapors” (James 4:14) here today and then gone soon thereafter. This isn’t news to anyone, the fact that life is short is really common knowledge among believers and non-believers alike, the question is: How are you preparing for what comes after this life?
According to the Bible, God is Holy and all together perfect in all things and God’s standard for us is absolute perfection in holiness as well. Due to man’s sin by nature (Romans 5:12) and by choice (Romans 5:8) we find ourselves outside of that original perfect relationship that we had with God when man was created, now with an impossibility to ever restore it by our own strength, our own intelligence, or by anything we could ever be or do (our works). (Ephesians 2:8-9)
This creates a great and serious dilemma for us because the Bible also says that the consequences for our sins is not only death in this lifetime but the penalty of an eternal hell. (Romans 6:23) (Luke 12:5) This is where the story will end for many, but there is GOOD NEWS because God has sent His Son to restore the relationship with those that believe all because of His great love that He has for us.
While we are undeserving, our only salvation comes by way of Jesus Christ, God’s only begotten Son and His death on the cross which paid the penalty of sin of those that will believe. He was/is our perfect substitute and the resurrection of Jesus was proof of God’s acceptance and the eternal validity of that payment on our behalf. There is forgiveness only in Christ for mankind.(John 14:6) The Bible says that whosoever would believe in Him WILL BE SAVED and ultimately have everlasting life with God. (John 3:16)
This belief or faith of the new believer is a gift from God as well and will be made manifest or be noticeable by repentance and turning from those past sins and living a life that is in submission to the Lordship of Jesus Christ and unto good works. (Ephesians 2:10)
The believer’s salvation is a gift from God that cannot be taken away. When a person is saved, he or she is always saved. Nothing can separate him/her from eternal life in Jesus Christ and they can then live with full assurance of Heaven as their future home. (John 10:27,28 I Peter 1:3-5)
So once again, physical training and exercise has some value for this life and obviously I am passionate about that area of our lives or I wouldn’t be running a fitness site, but remember, it’s only for a little while or a “season” but Godliness and Salvation by faith in Jesus Christ has value in ALL THINGS, not only for the present life but the life to come as well.
So, dedicate yourself to your fitness, but even more so to Christ…P90X changed my health and fitness mentality, but Christ changed my heart and my life (this and the next).
Where does my joy come from? Where does my assurance come from? That’s right!, Faith in Christ!
Thanks for taking the time to read this and if you want to learn more about any this or have any questions, please contact me!
Also, if you live in the Northern California/Sonoma Co area and are looking for a Bible believing church to attend – contact me, I can help with that too!
Jared
Purchase A Challenge Pack