The State Of The Church

THE STATE OF THE CHURCH

Treadmill Theology

by Jim Biscardi Jr.

A few years ago, I began running on a treadmill as often as possible to keep in shape. Here are a few things the Lord taught me. I call it Treadmill Theology.

When I first get started, it seems so hard to make the first lap (one-quarter mile) – especially when the incline is high. But if I keep going, one step at a time, I eventually see that I can continue to my goal. When we first accept Christ as Savior and Lord, it seems difficult and very awkward living our lives according to His Word. “You can’t put new wine into old wineskins…you must put new wine into new wineskins… No man also having drunk old wine immediately desires the new: for he says, ‘The old is better.’” (Luke 5: 36-39). But if we just keep on walking with Him, we find strength beyond ourselves helping us make it. “Take my yoke upon you and learn of me, for I am meek and lowing of heart and will give you rest unto your souls.” (Matthew 11:28).

It helps when I’m walking to avoid looking at the gauges (i.e. how fast I did my first mile; how many calories I’ve burned; or, how long I have left to walk). I find this so hard to do. I constantly want to know how I am doing. But when I look at the gauges, I think, “It feels like I did it faster than that” or “I still have so long to go before I burn enough calories” or “Can I make it to the finish line.” The apostle Paul advised the Philippians, “Forgetting what is behind and reaching toward what is before, I press toward the mark to win the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:13-14).

When I lose my balance for a moment, it helps me to focus on one object to regain my balance or to keep maintaining my balance. It’s impossible for me to do a lot of looking around as I walk. I need to focus on some space ahead of me to maintain balance. Similarly, Jesus helps us keep our balance- especially in times of trouble. “….let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith…” (Hebrews 12: 1-2).

What we need to do as Christians, as we run the race of life the real way, is maintain a “portrait” of Christ in the center of our minds, and to keep the sixty-six books of His Word on its bookshelves. I don’t mean a portrait of what He looks like outwardly. We know, “…he had no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him there is no beauty that we should desire him” (Isaiah 53:2).

We don’t need a portrait of His physical attributes, but we need a portrait of His character in mind from His Word that we can “look unto” as we run: His goodness and mercy, His forgiveness, His great love, His gentleness, His kindness, His strength, His power and might, His patience, His peace, His wisdom, His divinity, His humanity, His humility, discipline and obedience, His everything. “Thou will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusts in thee.” (Isaiah 26:3). “Let this mind be in you, that was also in Christ Jesus, who being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death, even the death of the cross.” (Philippians 2: 5-8).

When I have just one lap to go, I lower the treadmill’s incline, put up the speed and walk as fast as I can! “Let us lay aside every encumbrance[i.e. weight], and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us…” (Hebrews 12:1). The ancient runners would tie weights onto their shoes during practice runs, so that when the real race started and the weights came off, their feet felt much lighter and they could run their best race.

WE ARE NOT IN A PRACTICE RUN AS CHRISTIANS. IT’S THE REAL THING! We need to be unencumbered of the things that hold us back from surrendering completely to the Lord – our past sins should have been confessed, been forgiven and under His blood. If we continue in an old sin habit, we should confess that sin and ask Christ for help in overcoming it (1 John 1:9). If we are maintaining relationships that are bringing us down, robbing us and destroying our testimony for Christ, then we should pray for His help to throw off the old ties. And when we know the right thing to do, we need to be “doers of the Word not just hearers” (James 1:22). We must trust and obey Him.

When I lower the incline on the treadmill, it’s like getting rid of all the obstacles that hold me back. It feels so good when I’m on level ground. I feel like I can walk much faster and keep walking way beyond the two mile goal I set for myself. Marathon runners pace themselves. They only run full speed when they see the finish line. But we Christians should be seeing the finish line (i.e. Christ) at all times, ridding ourselves of any obstacles, and running as fast we can for as long as we can because the Lord gives us the strength to run the Christian race full speed all the time with endurance.

Jim has authored eight books that are on www.amazon.com or www.barnesandnoble.com. His most recent book, Like A Thief In The Night is also available as an E-book on the Kindle and Nook. Contact him at 609-242-8772 or mantle1@att.net


NEWSFRONT FEATURES REGIONAL EVENTS UPCOMING EVENTS TRI-STATE NEWS THE CLASSIFIEDS FOLLOW US ABOUT US EditRegion5	FEATURES THE STATE OF THE CHURCH Treadmill Theology by Jim Biscardi Jr. A few years ago, I began running on a treadmill as often as possible to keep in shape. Here are a few things the Lord taught me. I call it Treadmill Theology. When I first get started, it seems so hard to make the first lap (one-quarter mile) – especially when the incline is high. But if I keep going, one step at a time, I eventually see that I can continue to my goal. When we first accept Christ as Savior and Lord, it seems difficult and very awkward living our lives according to His Word. “You can’t put new wine into old wineskins…you must put new wine into new wineskins… No man also having drunk old wine immediately desires the new: for he says, ‘The old is better.’” (Luke 5: 36-39). But if we just keep on walking with Him, we find strength beyond ourselves helping us make it. “Take my yoke upon you and learn of me, for I am meek and lowing of heart and will give you rest unto your souls.” (Matthew 11:28). It helps when I’m walking to avoid looking at the gauges (i.e. how fast I did my first mile; how many calories I’ve burned; or, how long I have left to walk). I find this so hard to do. I constantly want to know how I am doing. But when I look at the gauges, I think, “It feels like I did it faster than that” or “I still have so long to go before I burn enough calories” or “Can I make it to the finish line.” The apostle Paul advised the Philippians, “Forgetting what is behind and reaching toward what is before, I press toward the mark to win the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:13-14). When I lose my balance for a moment, it helps me to focus on one object to regain my balance or to keep maintaining my balance. It’s impossible for me to do a lot of looking around as I walk. I need to focus on some space ahead of me to maintain balance. Similarly, Jesus helps us keep our balance- especially in times of trouble. “….let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith…” (Hebrews 12: 1-2). What we need to do as Christians, as we run the race of life the real way, is maintain a “portrait” of Christ in the center of our minds, and to keep the sixty-six books of His Word on its bookshelves. I don’t mean a portrait of what He looks like outwardly. We know, “…he had no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him there is no beauty that we should desire him” (Isaiah 53:2). We don’t need a portrait of His physical attributes, but we need a portrait of His character in mind from His Word that we can “look unto” as we run: His goodness and mercy, His forgiveness, His great love, His gentleness, His kindness, His strength, His power and might, His patience, His peace, His wisdom, His divinity, His humanity, His humility, discipline and obedience, His everything. “Thou will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusts in thee.” (Isaiah 26:3). “Let this mind be in you, that was also in Christ Jesus, who being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death, even the death of the cross.” (Philippians 2: 5-8). When I have just one lap to go, I lower the treadmill’s incline, put up the speed and walk as fast as I can! “Let us lay aside every encumbrance[i.e. weight], and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us…” (Hebrews 12:1). The ancient runners would tie weights onto their shoes during practice runs, so that when the real race started and the weights came off, their feet felt much lighter and they could run their best race. WE ARE NOT IN A PRACTICE RUN AS CHRISTIANS. IT’S THE REAL THING! We need to be unencumbered of the things that hold us back from surrendering completely to the Lord – our past sins should have been confessed, been forgiven and under His blood. If we continue in an old sin habit, we should confess that sin and ask Christ for help in overcoming it (1 John 1:9). If we are maintaining relationships that are bringing us down, robbing us and destroying our testimony for Christ, then we should pray for His help to throw off the old ties. And when we know the right thing to do, we need to be “doers of the Word not just hearers” (James 1:22). We must trust and obey Him. When I lower the incline on the treadmill, it’s like getting rid of all the obstacles that hold me back. It feels so good when I’m on level ground. I feel like I can walk much faster and keep walking way beyond the two mile goal I set for myself. Marathon runners pace themselves. They only run full speed when they see the finish line. But we Christians should be seeing the finish line (i.e. Christ) at all times, ridding ourselves of any obstacles, and running as fast we can for as long as we can because the Lord gives us the strength to run the Christian race full speed all the time with endurance. Jim has authored eight books that are on www.amazon.com or www.barnesandnoble.com. His most recent book, Like A Thief In The Night is also available as an E-book on the Kindle and Nook. Contact him at 609-242-8772 or mantle1@att.net Home \| Regional Events \| Features \| The Classifieds \| About Us \| Commentary \| Community \| Links ©2007 The Love Express. All rights reserved. Serving the Christian Community for over 20 years.