Bodily health. Health and exercise are a focus of people today. According to a friend, Jeff, people highly value physical training and related gadgets, food forms and clothing. There is a low view of God and limited study of His works in creation. I met Jeff in a local coffee shop. He hikes in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado regularly to observe and photograph wildlife, flowers, trees and insects. He displays a new set of photos every week in the coffee shop on a small easel. Jeff took the picture of the Two-Tailed Tiger Swallowtail caterpillar featured in this post. We thoroughly enjoy talking about our discoveries. The plants and animals have much to teach through the lens of scripture, revealing God. It is troubling to Jeff, that seemingly most people principally use the mountains in recreation as a test of endurance and human achievement. Here are my thoughts.
Godliness is more valuable than bodily health. Exercise is of some value in the care of our bodies. However, one needs to keep it in perspective. Knowing Jesus, and humbly walking with Him, has value in every way in this life and the life to come. Imagine if a caterpillar was in full health from regularly moving about and eating the right leaves, but never died to itself to be transformed into a butterfly. That would be sad. The potential of the caterpillar to reflect the glory of God is greater as a butterfly. In a similar way, one falls short of their potential when one focuses on physical health and ignores God, His creation, and His word. The CreationSpeech is to die to self and be transformed by the renewal of one’s mind, that by testing (e.g., with the scripture and prayer), one may discern the will of God (Romans 12:2) to please Him in our sanctification (1 Thessalonians 4:1-3). In Christ, this is possible. He is our strength. “Seek the LORD while He may be found. Call upon Him while He is near.” (Isaiah 55:6) “For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.” (Matthew 7:8) Great is the LORD who made the heavens, the earth, and everything in them!
Excellent! Keep writing!