By Jadihel Rodriguez, FAITH RXD Houma, LA Chapter Director.
FITNESS WORKOUT
The Mindset
Last time we kick off our series on endurance. We discussed how endurance is associated with the struggle, and we focused on not getting frustrated with the workout’s difficulty. This time, the focus should be on the finish line and the “Why” behind our pursuit of fitness. The Why should always be God-centered. His glory, His magnification, and our obedience to stewarding our bodies. Will those who observe your workout perceive that your why is aligned with those as mentioned above? Focus on enduring for all the right reasons, and receive the reward of your God is glorified in that!
The Workout
2 RFT (22 min cap)
135/95
10 pistol squats
10 squat cleans
10 shoulders to overhead
10 back squats
10 burpees over the barbell
FAITH WORKOUT
Reading
2 Timothy 2:10 ESV
“Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.”
Message
Ever met a poor winner? Poor losers are expected, but not poor winners. I am not excusing the behavior of someone who loses and acts like a baby and dishonors the spirit of competition, however, poor winners are a bit more surprising, are they not? We expect competitors in CrossFit and all throughout sports to win with grace and humility. Yet once in a while, we see a winner rub it in his competitor’s face, make it all about themselves, or take the opportunity to kick his opponent while he is down.
All the sacrifice, all the pain, all the enduring for what? To lord yourself over someone else? When I see such behavior, I am not inspired, but instead, I am discouraged.
The difference between sport and life is that, unlike in sports, we will not see how the finish inspires or discourages the spectators we leave behind.
Have you thought about what the world of your loved ones will look like when you are no longer here on Earth and go join our heavenly father?
I have. When I die, someone, probably my wife or my children, is going to go through my cellphone, my pictures, my DM’s, my business documents, my emails, my computer- all my personal things.
Will whoever that person is, reflect on what they see, and read and praise God that their husband, father, son, their brother in Christ endured in the faith? Or will they lament the fall of a man who once declared his death, burial, and resurrection when he was submerged in the Pacific ocean off the shores of Oahu in baptism?
The answer will reflect a man who endured, or a man who folded to the enemy. I pray you will take time to envision the days after your inevitable death the same way I do. I pray you will join me in asking our mighty God that he holds us firm in His hand and not allow us to fall into temptation. I pray our endurance will lead others to Christ.
1 Corinthians 3:11-15 ESV
“For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.”
I once had a friend ask me, “If you cannot lose your salvation, what’s the point of not sinning? Why not just live in God’s endless grace?”
I wish I had the time to unpack that question if that is a question that you genuinely wrestle with. There is even scripture that directly asks and answers that question. Romans 6: 1-2 says, “What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?”
In any event, I tell you about my friend and his question because, for me, it was a question about eternity, more than a question about salvation and grace. What I mean is, it was a question about what happens when I die and all the sins I committed. I know they are forgiven, but when I come face to face with Jesus and the wounds on his hands and feet, what will my life say at that moment?
I think my curiosity was piqued by the song ” I Can Only Imagine” by Mercy Me. It’s a beautiful song that has brought me to tears, smiles and given me goosebumps, even though I am not quite sure it’s biblical. I don’t think that’s precisely how it will work when we come face to face with Jesus, but I digress. The point is the song got me thinking about Hebrews 9:27, “And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment.”
What will my judgment look like? I mean, I know the outcome. Forgiven! Praise Jesus for that. But what will my trial look like?
That’s what 1 Corinthians 3:11-15 is referencing. When we die, when we are judged, our life will be put to the fire. All the things of this world, our money, our house, our cars, trophies, diplomas, all things not of consequence to the kingdom of God will burn like wood, hay, and straw.
Yet our time praying with our friends who are hurting, our time serving others, serving at church. The times reading and memorizing scripture, forgiving others, loving people the way Christ asked us to, all the things that progressed His kingdom here on Earth. Those will survive the fire like gold, silver, and precious stones.
That last part scared me when I first came face to face with it, “If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.”
That is not who I want to be after the judgment is passed. I do not want to be the man saved, but only as through the fire, left there standing, in front of my creator, with nothing to show for it.
I imagine that winners who cheat or disgrace themselves after victory feel like that after stepping down from the podium and resting their heads on a pillow late at night in the dark. I imagine this is what it means to fraudulently endure.
What a pity.
1 Corinthians 4:2 ESV
“Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.”
We just discussed two frightening thoughts.
- What will my loved ones find after I die? Will it inspire them or discourage them in their faith?
- What will I have to show for my life after the judgment?
I do not know if you got a chance to listen to our most recent podcast with JCruz Gudino. But if you have not, I strongly encourage that you download the app and do so today! JCruz made mention over and over about how our job is simple- obey and remain faithful- that’s it!
I cannot tell you how many people come to the faith, are saved, and then ask, OK, what’s next?
Obey and remain faithful.
If you believe that God the Father is the creator of all things and that all good things are gifts from Him, then we are merely stewards of everything we have here on Earth.
That house? You did not earn it.
That job? You did not get it.
That trophy? You did not win it.
Your wife? Your kids? They are not yours. They belong to God. You have just been gifted with the opportunity to steward them.
Dramatic?
Your life? Galatians 2:20 homie. Go look it up.
My point is that everything you have, including your life. All of it. It is not yours. It belongs to God, and you are His steward. And thus, it is required that you be found faithful.
That’s it. Not complicated. In the sport of life, we will hurt. You cannot escape it. Will you be faithful?
Will you endure?
QUESTIONS FOR GROUP DISCUSSION OR PERSONAL JOURNALING:
- What was the workout like for you? Did God reveal anything to you while you did it?
- Jadi shared two frightening thoughts, what did you think of them?
- What will my loved ones find after I die? Will it inspire them or discourage them in their faith?
- What will I have to show for my life after the judgment?
- In what ways were you challenged by in today’s message?
