For instance, have you noticed the dozens of weight-lifting machines being advertised on TV, each one boldly claiming that their particular product is "The Ultimate Home Gym." There is Bow Flex, Nautilus, Nordic Trac and the list goes on. And let us not leave out the hundreds of commercials advertising vitamin supplements, sports apparel, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, plastic surgery, and many other such things; and each advertisement is strategically designed to convince viewers that the products and services they offer hold for the consumer the key to a more fulfilled life. Despite the many different ways that each of them claim to provide "a better life," they all have this one fallacy in common: they are attempting to provide fulfillment at the exclusion of the most important part of the entire human being, the inner man. "For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come." (1 Timothy 4:8)
Not heeding the warning and promise of the Scripture, however, many in our nation are following after the alluring promises of fulfillment through fleshly things. With so much thought and effort being devoted to the false idea that true happiness is found only in material things, it is no wonder that society is experiencing such a massive decline in morality. The consequences will be great, including suffering and this: "Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people." (Proverbs 14:34)
But make no mistake about this: the constant undertow in this nation that is drawing millions of people away from God is a deliberate, cunning, and yet subtle ploy of the enemy, designed to entice people into the counterfeit fulfillment of secular humanism, while at the same time distracting them from the truth that real joy and fulfillment can only be found in one place, the person of Christ Jesus! "For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water." (Jeremiah 2:13)
The continual enticements of the world to follow after vanity in the person of material things, good looks, and illicit behavior are the work of satan to offer an imitation of the true fulfillment that can only be found in our Lord Jesus Christ. But satan is also continually working through the same culture of secular humanism, as represented by the majority control of the Left in government and other secular institutions, to remove anything that even remotely mentions God, and His gift of true fulfillment.
In that you may discover the recipe that the devil has been using to brew up the present condition of our country: materially rich, but for the most part spiritually bankrupt! This nation is weak and flabby regarding the things of God, but extremely fit and trim regarding the things of the devil.
Does that sound too harsh? Jesus, while addressing the Pharisees in the temple said, "Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it." (John 8:44)
In other words, those who do not walk in truth are walking in lies like the children of the devil himself. Like pawns on a chess board, they can be demonically manipulated to carry out satan's destructive agenda against all of humanity- whether it be through offering the allurements of the flesh, or warring against any mention of the Almighty God.
The problem in this country is clearly severe! So, how do we turn the tide of this massive rush away from the things of truth? Each one of us, individually, must exercise ourselves unto godliness, raising the standard of God's Word in our own lives; and we must recognize that we are not wrestling against flesh and blood, but against spiritual wickedness, and that the weapons of our warfare are not fleshly, but mighty through God. Jesus said, "Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." (Matthew 5:13-16)
How can each of us accomplish any of this? To begin with, we must recognize that we can do nothing of ourselves, but that through the Spirit of the Lord we can do all things. Then, as we follow the Holy Spirit of Truth as He leads us into all Truth, we can increasingly enter into the living power and knowledge of God's Word; for it is His Word that makes us free! "If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." (John 8:31b-32)
Through the Word of God, we must submit unto the true fulfillment found only in Christ Jesus. Then, through the truth of the Word of God, we may expose the imitations offered by the world for the lies that they are, and reveal the true fulfillment of Christ through our personal testimony, witness, and example.
As Jesus said, "And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me." (John 12:32) What did He mean by that? When Jesus referred to being lifted up, He was not only speaking of the type of death that He would suffer on the cross at Calvary. He was also referring to the truth that if we are baptized- that is, saturated- in Him, and live His righteousness daily, He will draw all men to Himself through us. The enemy offers imitations of the flesh, through his willing models of the flesh; but as partners with God, we are meant to offer the true fulfillment of Christ, through being a willing model of His life!
In order for this to occur, we must become fully immersed in God's Holy Word, so that we might put on the very nature of Christ. The apostle Paul, encouraging Timothy to do the same, wrote, "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." (2 Timothy 2:15)
Again, this can only be done through humble submission to the power of God's Spirit. We only make ourselves fleshly imitations when we try to accomplish this on our own. But herein lies the deeper problem in society today. In great part, the salt has lost its savor; the vast majority of professing Christians in this nation are not studying the scriptures or dwelling in the presence of God as they should be. Many think they are, but they are going about it in their own strengths, leaning on their own understanding. For example, many churchgoers pick a Bible version, because they can understand it. Who told them they could understand God's Word?
If a Bible can be read and understood using human understanding, then it is not the Word of God, but the words of men. God's Word can only be understood through the guidance and power of the Holy Spirit of Truth. For without Him, we can do nothing, but through Him we can do all things, because He strengthens us. As a consequence of feeding on the words of men, many in the Church are malnourished, very weak, and sickly when it comes to the things of God. It should be evident that a weak person does not make a fruitful workman, nor does a weak Christian make an effective model of the life of Christ!
If we were to look at the Church in America today as if it were a spiritual body builder, it would not take long to see that it has, for the most part, been following the lead of the wrong influences. Instead of a steady, daily diet of immersion in the sincere milk and meat of the Word of God, the Church spends most of its time immersed in the things of the world. Instead of exercising itself to continue more and more in the presence and strength of God, the Church is exercising itself with worldly practices and fleshly strength.
For instance, in an attempt to make up for its spiritual weakness, the Church is attempting to use the methods of the world- the strength of the flesh- to advertise Christianity, instead of the power of the Spirit! Consequently, the Church has become more and more like the world, and less and less like Christ, which has led many in the Church to become ever more ensnared in the false fulfillment the world offers. The methods of the world may seem to work for a time- in increased attendance, in blockbuster sales, in popular acclaim; but sowing to flesh, no matter how well-intentioned, always results in a bitter harvest.
Thus, while at first or even second glance much of the Church today may appear to be outwardly healthy, inwardly it is either dead or dying. Jesus rebuked the Church in Sardis for that very thing: "And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead." (Revelation 3:1)
The body of Christ in this country has been submitting itself to the wrong spiritual life coaches for far too long. It has been following the lead of unclean spirits, doing things and feeding on things that are detrimental to good spiritual health- things such as seeking spiritual advice from the unsaved, the lukewarm, or anyone other than God and His Word.
It is for this reason that much of the Church today has grown strong in doing things the world's way, but has become utterly lost as far as God's ways are concerned. "And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things." (Mark 6:34)
Just as a body builder in the natural sense needs a qualified strength training coach to keep him focused on his goal, we Christians need a coach to teach us as well; and we need one who is officially qualified by God! Why? Because, we as the "body" of Christ, are to take our instruction from the most qualified coach of them all, the Holy Spirit, and none other! Just as Jesus Christ is the King of all kings and the Lord of all lords, the Holy Spirit is the Teacher of all teachers and the Coach of all coaches! Only the best for God's kids!
Just who is this great life coach? To begin building the proper relationship with the Holy Spirit, one must know that the Holy Spirit is a real person, and not some strange heavenly gas that floats around settling only on the lives of those who have earned enough brownie points with God. He is a person that is available to all who call on the name of Jesus Christ.
Jesus, just before He was to be crucified, revealed to His disciples the wonderful news of the coming of the person of the Holy Spirit. As great as this announcement was, the disciples, being grieved at the thought of Jesus leaving them, could not comprehend the awesome magnitude of what Jesus was telling them. He said, "He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me. These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you. But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." (John 14:24-27)
Now, there is a crucial principle to be understood here. Consider this: why did Jesus' physical body have to die so that the Holy Spirit could be made available to those who call on His name? We find a clue in this passage of scripture: "And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit." (John 12:23-24) "Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you." (John 16:7)
The reason it was expedient for us that Jesus go away (John 12:23-24) is because of the manner of His departure, which is given in John 16:77; namely, the corn of wheat dies to bring forth much fruit. Exactly what is that fruit? It is the complete company of believers in Christ. And what are they called? They are called the Body of Christ. Hence, the Reality mentioned in Colossians 2:6-9 is still true and it embraces the complete company of believers, so that now the fulness of the Godhead dwells in Him bodily includes the Body of Christ!
As painful as were the thoughts of leaving His disciples and enduring the agony of crucifixion, He knew full well that He would have to pay that painful price in order to provide humanity with not only eternal salvation and direct access to God, but also with a life coach that will, if listened to and obeyed, lead believers into the perfect will and plan of God for their lives. This, my friend, is true fulfillment!
Paul wrote, "Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God." (Hebrews 12:1-2)
Jesus willingly made his way to the cross, because of the joy of knowing, among countless other wonderful things, that the Holy Spirit was going to be made available to each of us through His death. Here, then, is the crucial principle: just as Jesus died so that the Holy Spirit might be given to us, so also do we have to die, day by day, so that the power of the Spirit might be given through us to others. "Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body." (II Corinthians 4:10)
As Jesus also said, "And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it." (Luke 9:23-24)
That is how we put on the life of Christ- through the death of the cross. "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me." (Galations 2:20)
The horrible price that Jesus paid on the cross made it possible for the Holy Spirit to come and teach the wonderful things of God to those who diligently seek Him- to those who are willing to take up their cross, lose their own lives, and follow Him. And as we glorify Jesus by living His life, instead of our own, the power of the Holy Spirit will flow out of us. "In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)" (John 7:37-39)
So- how do we begin to go about taking up our cross daily? In what form can we expect to see the outpouring of the Holy Spirit begin within us? Jesus said, "But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you." (John 14:26)
Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you needed direction from God, and all of a sudden you remembered a particular scripture that dealt exactly with what you were going through at that moment? That was Him! That was the Holy Spirit doing exactly what our heavenly Father sent Him here to do- to teach and remind us what Jesus says or has said that pertains to whatever we are dealing with at any given time!
That is why our being intimately immersed in God's Word is of the utmost importance! The more of the Word of God that we have written in our hearts, the more the Holy Spirit can work within us. If we sow bountifully, we will reap bountifully! The Word of God should be counted more valuable to our daily diet than our physical food! "Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food." (Job 23:12) "And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God." (Luke 4:4)
When do we forget to eat for a day? Not often, if ever! Yet the Word of God is more important than even eating. Continuing in the Word of God and in the presence of God should become for us much more than a daily period of dedicated quiet time. We ought to exercise ourselves to think on the things of God, to meditate on His Word, to dwell in His presence throughout each day, no matter how mundane or trivial what we are doing may seem! "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." (Philippians 4:8)
Taking up our cross might seem like a great thing that only a few, super-spiritual Christians might do; but faithfulness begins in the little things. We must be faithful to continually immerse ourselves in the Word of God, to meditate on it, to remember God more and more, at work and at home! "And his servants came near, and spake unto him, and said, My father, if the prophet had bid thee do some great thing, wouldest thou not have done it? how much rather then, when he saith to thee, Wash, and be clean? Then went he down, and dipped himself seven times in Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God: and his flesh came again like unto the flesh of a little child, and he was clean." (II Kings 5:13-14) "Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word," (Ephesians 5:26)
If we will faithfully continue in the diet and exercise of the Word of God, our Coach, the Holy Spirit and close relationships with mature believers, God can then work into us more and more of His strength, so that we might become effective models of the life of Christ, wielding the mighty weapons of God! We will grow to be more and more filled with the Spirit, with all the fullness of God; and that is true fulfillment! "For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God." (Ephesians 3:14-19)
This is why our passionate and regular study of the Holy Scriptures and hanging out with strong believers is so very important to our development in the things of God. The Bible is like no other book that has ever been written, or that ever will be written, in that, because of the presence and tutelage of the Holy Spirit, it is literally alive! No other book out of the innumerable volumes that have ever been written can make that claim.
Thus the Holy Bible is, in both word and deed, the ultimate home gym! As we are faithful to study and exercise God's Word, it will strengthen us where it really matters, in the things of our wonder-filled Lord! Our obedience to sow unto the Spirit will in turn enable the Holy Spirit to lead us into all righteousness; and thus we will be able to fulfill the will of God here on earth, as Jesus did, and become effective models of the life of Christ! "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven." (Matthew 7:21) Remember, no Holy Spirit, no life! Know the Holy Spirit, know life!
Jesus said, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it. If ye love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you." (John 14:12-17)
So despite the many claims made by the manufacturers of body-building equipment, the Holy Word of God, and it alone, is and will forever be "The Ultimate Home Gym!"