By Colleen Podmore
The other day I decided to walk to the top of a rocky
outcrop called The Pinnacles on the Thames Peninsula. I made the decision to go
and I began to prepare for the journey.
Finally, the day arrived and I found myself on the track
walking along and I began to observe at least four different components that
were required to work together for me to get to my destination. Of course I’m sure there are a lot more but
today I would like to focus on just four and to make some spiritual parallels
that will help us reach our spiritual goals as I reached my physical goal.
If I was missing just one of these components – I would not
make it. If one was not working properly – I would not make it. All the four
components that I will describe are equally important.
Heart
I noticed my heart beating fast as I climbed the steps on my
walk. It is truly amazing that it should be able to beat faster and faster as
the need requires. But when rested for a moment, slows down again. Where would
we be if our hearts stopped beating for even a moment?
The Bible says that God gives us a new heart when we trust
in Jesus. It completely changes us, the way we think, the things we do and it
will beat forever! We are
regenerated and renewed by the
Holy Spirit (Titus 3:5). Unless we are born again we will not see the kingdom
of God (John 3:3) The Bible says ‘Blessed are the pure in heart for they will
see God’ (Matt 5:8). In Psalm 50:10, David cries out for a ‘pure heart or a
clean heart.’
How important it is for our bodies to have a strong heart
and how equally important is it for our spiritual lives to have clean pure
hearts. This is a worthy goal – what do I need to change to achieve it? What
steps can I take?
Breathing
As I continued to labour up the hill, my breathing became
heavier; I should say by now I was gasping for air. My body was screaming out
for oxygen. The oxygen was flooding into my lungs and was then transferred to
haemoglobin where it was transported around my blood stream until it was used
up by the cells requirements.
I was so grateful for the clean pure air, no pollution, no
contaminants, no exhaust fumes. In fact my exhaust fumes – the carbon dioxide I
breathed out, was taken up by the green plants and converted to oxygen – now
there is a miracle!
The Holy Spirit is often referred to as being like wind and
this is similar to the air/oxygen we breathe – essential for life – essential
to our souls. Have I been breathing deeply of the Spirit? Sometimes we can
breathe in other fumes, other influences apart from the pure oxygen of the
Spirit.
This is a worthy goal – to spend more time under the
influence of the Holy Spirit. What do I need to change to achieve more of Him?
What steps can I take? What can I start doing? What can I stop doing?
The Body
As I was walking along the path it began to get steeper. My
legs were aching but still functioning. It is amazing when we consider how we
are put together.
Bones provide support for our bodies and help form our
shape. Bones are both very light and very strong. Joints occur when two bones
meet and allow for flexibility and movement. Muscles are masses of tough
elastic tissue that pull our bones when we move.
Bones are fastened together with ligaments while cartilage
protects the ends of bones so they don’t rub together. Muscles are fastened to
bones with tendons.
Bones can break, muscles can weaken and joints can be
damaged by injury and disease.
The Bible says we are the body of Christ – each part with a function
to perform – 1Cor 12:12. Just as my body worked together in unity to get me to
my physical goal; so must the body of Christ work in unity to get us to our
spiritual goals. We need each other, we are no longer individuals.
There is no doubt about it; we are fearfully and wonderfully
made. If God can create our human bodies to function as they do, imagine His
work on building the church – beautiful! (Matt 16:18)
This is a worthy goal to attain – to be a part of the body
of Christ. Maybe I could find a job in the church programme. Become like a
well-functioning muscle so that meetings run smoothly. What do I need to change
to achieve this? What steps do I need to take?
Mind
Finally, I had already decided that I was going to reach my physical
destination, therefore my mind was focussed on my goal. I had direction and
purpose and meaning.
The Bible says we are to ‘Love the Lord our God with all our
heart, with all our soul and with all our mind and with all our strength’ (Mark
12:30, Matt 22:37; Dt 6:5).
“Therefore I press on toward the Goal for the
prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Phil3:14)
This is a most worthy goal to pursue. This is our mountain
to climb: To love God!
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