As some of you know, I had a major life-changing surgery back in the spring (gastric by-pass) and I’ve lost a ton of weight (well not a ton exactly but almost half a ton at any rate), and because of all of this rapid weight loss I am having visions of recapturing the dreams of my youth. One of those “dreams” is to do some “long-term” backpacking. I’m talking about 2-3 weeks of loosing yourself on a mountain trail – just me and a 30-40 pound pack. Like I said, a youthful dream.
To this end, I’ve been reading everything I can get my hands on. I’ve been studying maps. I have even went as far as to design a conditioning plan to get myself in physical shape. Even now, I am cruising the aisles of sporting good stores checking out tents, sleeping bags, and backpacks. This is something that I really want to do and I am making appropriate plans to do just that. I share all of that useless personal information to ask this question, “Have I (you) invested that much energy into your daily walk with Christ?” To hike the mountains will require a life-changing transformation in everything that I do physically and even mentally. It will require a total, single-minded commitment to achieve the goal. Have I (you) made such a commitment to grow in Christ?
It is so easy to set goals and focus on the things of this world. We do it every day – in our jobs, our families, our hobbies, and even our churches; but, do we really pursue the things of God, our relationship with God with the same fervor? I wonder. I am reminded of Romans 12:1-2, “Therefore, I urge you brethern, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect” (NASB). And, “Keep the charge of the Lord your God, to walk in His ways, to keep His statues, His commandments, His ordinances, His testimonies, according to what is written in the Law of Moses, so that you may suceed in all that you do and wherever you turn” (1 Kings 2:3); “So this I say and affirm together with the Lord, that you walk no longer just as the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their mind, being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the harness of their heart” (Ephesains 4:17-18). Do I (you) have the faith to follow God?
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