Gym Rat

I enjoy the gym. Crazy as it may seem, working out is more a hobby to me than drudgery! I am glad for this mindset and hope that it remains for a long time. To be honest, I get kind of grumpy if I am not exercising.  
It wasn’t too long ago that I was doing my morning routine at the gym, and there was this guy there. He was running laps, lifting weights, and sweating hard. I finished up my workout and was walking out when I noticed the same guy who had just spent the last 45 minutes of his life trying to improve his health, heading back into the club with a cigarette in his mouth. Something just didn’t seem right with the picture.
 
Understand I am not trying to be critical of him. I realize we all have issues that entangle us as we try to live healthy lives. All I need is to be exposed to homemade ice cream and my gym time becomes a waste. As I drove away that day, I couldn’t help but think of the Apostle Paul’s words to Timothy when he said, “Physical exercise has some value, but spiritual exercise is much more important, for it promises a reward in both this life and the next.” (1Timothy 4:8)
 
Taking care of your physical body is important—there is no denying that. But even as we take care of this physical body, the reality is things shift and change!   What good is it if I build a temporary temple, and neglect the spiritual one? As that Scripture says, when you build spiritually you aren’t only helping your future, you are helping your now! You are becoming stronger, more flexible, and have greater endurance to become the person God designed you to be. So take care of yourself, but prefer godliness over all things, because godliness will last.