Livin Lively

By Peggy Lively

In January, along with the rest of the country, I decided it was time to re-commit to regular exercise. I began walking/running on my treadmill, and worked up to about 3 miles, four days a week. Then in the spring, I started swimming two mornings a week. So I thought I was getting into pretty good shape.

            Then one morning in June, I decided to go run outside instead of on my treadmill. (Did I mention that I live in Houston, Texas? Just last week it was 92 degrees at 7:30 in the morning.) I had a very rude awakening shortly into my run.  In addition to the heat outside, the humidity was about 95%. I was amazed at how much more difficult it was running outside than in the comfort of my own home. There was no air conditioning, no cold water bottle in my cup holder, or sweat towel hanging over the hand rail.

This got me thinking about life in general. Some of our most challenging times, but greatest growth opportunities, are those we experience when we leave the comforts of our home. Whether it is going off to college, getting married, taking a new job, or going on the mission field. Sometimes it can be much more difficult than we expected.

            I think this applies to our spiritual life as well. It is much easier to be a Christian and speak about our faith while in the comfort of our church. But it becomes much more challenging and sometimes uncomfortable for us when we leave the church building and go into our schools, sports, and work, or even choose to talk with the Mormon that knocks on our door.

Outside the church, we no longer have the comfort of everyone believing just like us, and we don’t have anyone feeding us the Truth. We must begin to find the Truth in God’s Word for ourselves and stand up for what we believe even when nobody else agrees. We may even be ridiculed or punished for voicing what we believe. It is happening more and more as our world is turning away from God.

Paul knew what it was like to endure hardship when he left the comforts of church and home. He tells us, “Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers. I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches.” (II Corinthians 11:24-28, NIV)

It’s interesting that Paul also compares living the Christian life to running. He says, “Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. So I run with purpose in every step”. (I Corinthians 9:24-26, NLT) Then at the end of his life Paul confidently says, “You take over. I’m about to die, my life an offering on God’s altar. This is the only race worth running. I’ve run hard right to the finish, believed all the way.” (II Timothy 4:6-7, The Message) Did you hear that? He’s passing on the baton. “You take over.” Will you accept the challenge? Will you run with purpose in every step?

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. (Hebrews 12:1, NLT)