Walking with the Wise #175: Healthy Heart Choices

“The backslider in heart will be filled with the fruit of his ways,
and a good man will be filled with the fruit of his ways.”
—Proverbs 14:14

In 2009, I decided to get in shape. I stepped onto the treadmill and began walking. It was hard the first time after I was done. I managed to walk for a full 60 minutes, something that I never had done before. I did it again the next day, and each day after that. My pace and times got quicker and quicker, my breathing got less intense and rather than feel tired I got more and more invigorated. I started to eat better, lost weight, toned up, and felt much better about myself. I felt so good that I decided to run the Chicago Marathon, which I did in October of 2009.

As the days, months, and years have passed since then, my running started to slow down. My eating habits became less healthy, and the weight has slowly packed back on. Eventually I quit going to the gym completely. But, I’ve decided to get back in shape again, so I went back to the gym, got back on the treadmill in an effort to recover some of the benefits of a healthy lifestyle.

The Bible says we are train ourselves to be godly, as Paul wrote,

“Rather train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come”—1 Timothy 4:7-8.

Physical training has value, but training for godliness is far more valuable. If we train ourselves to be godly, then backslide, we will experience the unhealthy consequences of that choice in the same way we quit exercising. We will notice a shortness of temper, a guilty conscience, lack of joy, poor attitude, a greater propensity to sin and much more.

For the believer who pursues Christ he will also experience the fruit of his choice—joy, good attitude, a clean conscience, and the knowledge that he is doing that which God delights in.

How is your training going? Are you training for godliness? If you are backsliden, be warned, you will suffer the consequences of your choices! As the Bible warns us,

“Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life”—Galatians 6:7-8.

Let us get in spiritual shape by reading and applying God’s Word, doing that which He delights in, for His glory and our joy. Amen.