I gave up diet sodas about two months ago. I used to drink six to eight a day. Now my wife and I are focusing on eating healthier and exercising. I hate giving up sweets, but I know I need to do it. When it comes to exercising, I usually think that I’ll start tomorrow. Why do we put off exercising? We know it’s good for us, so why do we put it off?
Personally, I’d rather not feel pain. I try to avoid it when I can. You know how when you exercise really hard the first time (in a long time) that your muscles are sore the next day? It’s painful. I know that short term pain is really going to be good for me in the long run, but I don’t want it. I’d rather come home from work and be on the computer than take time to exercise.
The problem with my bad exercise attitude is the old saying no pain…no gain. You have to endure a little pain to improve. Exercise would help me lose a few pounds, plus it would make me healthier. You have to change to improve your life. The apostle Paul said that physical exercise was of some value, but that we should train ourselves in godliness (1 Timothy 4:7-8). Paul is saying that even though we should physically exercise, our main focus should be on eternity. Our focus should be on God – on spiritual matters instead of fleshly desires.
Jesus said that we should count the cost of following Him (Luke 14:27-28) and He further said that we must be willing to forsake all (all people and all things) to be His disciples (Luke 14:33). I have several friends who know the truth about Jesus and they know that He is the only true Savior. They know the Gospel – they know that they need to repent and put their faith in Him. They know that Jesus is the only way, but they have counted the cost and they are saying that they are not ready to submit to Him. They say that the cost is too high.
My heart breaks for these people (imagine how much God’s heart breaks for them?). They are afraid to give up control (like any of us really have any control to begin with) of their lives. They are afraid of what God will ask them to do or give up. Some of them frankly love their sins more than they love God. They simply don’t want to give them up for their eternal salvation. They are too focused on the short term pain (or the short term pleasures they don’t want to give up) and they are not looking at the wonderful gain of a right relationship with God – for all of eternity.
If you are like some of my friends today, please don’t focus so much on the pain of following Jesus Christ. Yes, He said we need to count the cost, but He didn’t mean focus so much on it that you choose not to follow Him. Along with counting the cost we should also look at the blessings.
Walking daily with Jesus is indescribable. I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world. God fills true believers with a peace that passes all understanding (Philippians 4:7). Nothing can separate us from the love of God (Romans 8:35-39). We are to taste and see that the Lord is good (Psalm 34:8). The best part is that God gives us a deposit, a fortaste of Heaven when the Holy Spirit lives inside us (Ephesians 1:14). God’s blessings are without number (1 Corinthians 2:9).
You might ask: Is it easy being a follower of Jesus? From a human stand point – no, it is not. You have to die to your fleshly desires. God may ask you to do things that you don’t want to do. You have to give up your selfish desires and follow the Master. None of us naturally want to do these things. We naturally want to do what we want to do. It’s only through the power of the Holy Spirit that we can die to ourselves. But once you’ve experienced a true relationship with God, you wouldn’t want it any other way.
Living victoriously for Jesus is very freeing (1 Corinthians 15:57). You give up worry, anxiety and fears (Isaiah 41:10) for the love, joy and peace (Galatians 5:22-23) that comes from God the Father through Jesus Christ. The pain is minimal compared to the eternal rewards. Go for the everlasting gain. Surrender your life to Jesus Christ our Lord today and start experiencing the eternal gain.