Don’t destroy God’s temple!

 Over the past few days, we considered healthy lifestyles and how as believers we can present our bodies to God as a healthy living sacrifice. We saw that we are God’s temple and the Holy Spirit dwells within us and as such, we should not mishandle our physical well-being. We shall continue the conversation of a healthy lifestyle this week and consider ways we can spur our others to live purposely to achieve a healthy Christian lifestyle. Most times, we tend to consider achieving a healthier lifestyle on a personal level. There are very few messages on healthy lifestyles in church. For some Christians, the focus is Spirituality and nothing about their well-being matters. These people miss the point: to be healthy is not just a physical state but a spiritual transformation. If your spiritual state is sickly, it affects your general well-being. 

Whenever we go through bouts of emotional and psychological issues, we tend to weaken physically. Many people develop health problems after an emotional or psychological impact. There are many weak and sickly people in the church who look strong on the outside, but their physical strength is being zapped by pains and worries that could be met by the church (institution). What we do not know is this: “Do you not discern and understand that you [the whole church at Corinth] are God’s temple (His sanctuary), and that God’s Spirit has His permanent dwelling in you [to be at home in you, collectively as a church and also individually]?” (1 Corinthians 3:16 AMPC) Individually and collectively we are God’s sanctuary and individually and collectively, God’s Spirit dwells in us.

If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person; for God’s temple is sacred, and you together are that temple. (1 Corinthians 3:17)

When we understand that the temple of God is both an individual and collective institution, we will be more concerned about one another. When we tend to neglect others in their lowest point, we destroy the temple of God (collectively as a church). And this is the verdict: “If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person; for God’s temple is sacred, and you together are that temple” (1 Corinthians 3:17). Therefore, “let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds” (Hebrews 10:24). One of the ways as a church we can collectively do that is to open our doors for counseling, make room for seminars on wellness and healthier lifestyles and encourage others to take care of themselves. Recently, the men’s ministry in my church had a health talk and I learnt so many things about men’s health. Promoting and awareness of healthier lifestyles is important for the general well-being of the body of Christ. 

The women’s ministry in my church has a plan for a physical activity and I hope to join this healthy fun activity. What plans does your church have to promote healthy lifestyles?

Renew your strength with physical training

I work from home and that means that I sit for eight hours a day. I thought working from home would be fun but it really is not. Before the global pandemic came, it would usually take some sort of exercise to get to work. Whether you walk, drive or take public transportation, there is an initial waking up, taking a shower, preparing lunch (if you do),  walking around and finally getting to work. For those who walk or cycle to work, the few minutes exert metabolic actions and make them healthier. These days, most people working from home just wake up, wash down (if they do) eat whatever is in the house and sit at their workspace for hours. Periodic lunch breaks still take one to the kitchen and back to the workspace. Then after work, there is the likelihood of sitting to watch TV or cooking or just calling for takeout delivery and back to bed. If such a lifestyle continues for a few months or years without proper schedules for bodily exercise, one is likely to suffer from the lack of exercise and physical activity. 

I can do all this through him who gives me strength. (Philippians 4:13)

In fact, sitting down is hard work and if your body doesn’t get rid of all the calories we accumulate in the day, it will reflect on your general appearance. You might look healthy on the outside, but inwardly,  you will be so stressed, tired, and constantly battle with fatigue. Our daily schedule doesn’t seem to make it any easier to have a schedule for fitness such as going to the gym, home fitness sessions (paid or free), taking a walk, running, skipping, swimming or any other physical activity that helps to put the body in shape. One Bible verse that has been a sort of encouragement to me recently is Philippians 4:13: “I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” All things include physical training for our general well-being. You do not have to do much. A walk through your neighbourhood will go a long way to help those tired limbs. Skipping helps the whole body to be in motion, raising your hands up and down while you dance to your favourite gospel song exercises your feeble hands. 

When we understand that the little benefit of physical training ultimately has eternal value (because we can worship God better when we are fit), we will strive to strike a blow to our bodies to make it subject to us. Paul, using the allusion of athletics for self-discipline among believers, noted that: “Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.”(1 Corinthians 9:26‭-‬27)
If our aim is to get the ultimate prize of salvation, we should also aim to daily renew our strength. After all, Isaiah 40:20 admonishes us that, “those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” Our inner strength for our spiritual battles comes from the Lord, but to run physically and not grow weary, we need to train the body for that.

Physical training is of some value!

Early last year, I joined a fitness challenge on Facebook. To be honest, it was the most difficult time to exercise because I had just delivered a few months earlier and my body was just tired from everything. However,  I realized that even though I was not so consistent with the fitness challenge, I became very fit and easily lost some weight I was struggling to deal with. I was able to do more, and fasting intermittently became easier because my body was already lighter. Out of sheer joy, I ended the fitness challenge abruptly and now, I find it even difficult to make time for body exercises. I know that some people will wonder why keeping fit as a Christian is necessary. My response is if you are not fit, even if the church service is brought to your doorsteps, you cannot join. You cannot worship God in dancing (if you like to raise your hands and body in worship) and your prayers will be centered on “Lord  give me strength.” 

For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. (1 Timothy 4:8)

It is not bad to pray for physical strength from the Lord. In fact, in the Bible, we see so much healing and deliverance to make sick people well. The ministry of Jesus was filled with so many miracles. He healed the sick, the lame and all sorts of infirmities and made the people whole. The prophets of old and disciples of Jesus operated in the healing ministry and we have been tasked to continue this mandate (Mark 16:18). However, we need to be physically strong in order to go into the world and fulfill our great commission. If we fail to take care of the body God has given us, we will fail to reach the souls God has sent us to minister to. One of the ways to ensure that we are fit for the task is to do physical training. Yes, body exercises! Is that in the Bible, you may ask. Yes! Paul admonished his spiritual son Timothy with these timeless words: “For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come” (1 Timothy 4:8).

Whenever we read this verse, we tend to focus on the second part and ignore the first. Physical training or bodily exercise is of some value and the value no matter how little it is, it is important that we hold on to it. These bodily exercises include fitness training (discipline), abstaining from unhealthy foods, intermittent fasting, abstaining from substances that are detrimental to your health etc. These may sound insignificant but we ignore the little value of taming our bodies, we will be tamed on beds by our weak, sick, fragile bodies. Take time after work to take a walk, use the skipping rope if you can, do an aerobic dance with your favorite gospel music, do a run, walk your dog, take the children to the park and run after them, avoid junk foods, eat healthy, avoid certain treats if they contain too much calories, cut your consumption of alcohol,  avoid substance abuse etc. 

After you have done all these, continue to walk on godliness because “godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come” (1 Timothy 4:8b). 

Let your eating and drinking glorify God!

There is a cultural association to what we consume. In fact, this seems to assert the fact that one man’s meat is another’s poison. There are foods that I cannot stand and cannot even watch people eat just because it is culturally inappropriate to me. My lack of interest in those foods does not make those foods bad. Most importantly, whatever we eat should be healthy for the body. Paul also admonishes us to ensure that our choice of foods does not raise a stumbling block for others (1 Corinthians 10:31). Healthy meals are good for the body and help the consumer to receive the appropriate nutrients in their right proportion. God is interested in you and expects us to be interested in our health and well-being. 

So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. (1 Corinthians 10:31).

A healthy body makes a healthy Christian but an unhealthy body brings decay and groanings. In view of this, God had admonished us that “whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31). Our food consumption should be God-glorifying. Gluttony, desire for junk foods, and other eating patterns that ultimately causes one to be at the mercy of health professionals or develop excessive health complications is not God-glorifying. Paul advised the believers in Corinth to “eat anything sold in the meat market without raising questions of conscience, for, “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.” If an unbeliever invites you to a meal and you want to go, eat whatever is put before you without raising questions of conscience. But if someone says to you, “This has been offered in sacrifice,” then do not eat it, both for the sake of the one who told you and for the sake of conscience.” (1 Corinthians 10:25‭-‬28).

In other words, the believer has been given the freedom of choice, but we should ensure that our choices are glorifying God but not raising stumbling blocks to others and ultimately causing us health-related problems. When we understand this, it helps us to make God-informed decisions. Knowing that “I have the right to do anything but not everything is beneficial” and “I have the right to do anything but not everything is constructive” (1 Corinthians 10:23) helps to moderate what we consume. Further, knowing that “no one should seek their own good, but the good of others” (1 Corinthians 10:24) put a desire to consume that which will cause others to thrive. Remember that when our way of eating causes us to be unwell, it affects the people around us. Let God be glorified in the way you eat. Take care of the body, it is the temple of God!

Take care of your body, it is the temple of the Holy Spirit!

One of the many reasons for which we should be intentional about taking care of ourselves is that we will give accounts to God on how well we took care of this flesh. In fact, when we come to Christ, we become the children of God and everything concerning our viewpoint shifts to focus on God. Our journey with God is not only a spiritual journey, we should be prepared in the flesh to be ever presentable to the Lord. As stewards of everything God has made, including our bodies, we have the responsibility,  as much as we can, to take very good care of ourselves. Beside general body hygiene, we should also develop ways and means to ensure that we consciously exercise through profitable fitness. Remember, we have a responsibility to take care of this body!

Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own. (1 Corinthians 6:19)

Paul admonished the Corinthian church that “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own” (1 Corinthians 6:19). The Spiritual truth of this verse cannot be overemphasized. But we usually miss this point: “You are not your own.” If someone rents a car from a rental company or rents an apartment, the person is expected to take good care of the car or the apartment so that the owners will not have to charge extra fees for damages. In fact, car rental companies now request for some insurance coverage before giving out their vehicles. If you are not your own, then what measures have you put in place to ensure that the Holy Spirit dwelling in you has a good abode? Imagine entering a house situated on a dunghill? What will even motivate you to go there in the first place? Even if you hear testimonies about the luxury of the interior, you will want to believe only after you have seen it…just because the house is on a dunghill.

When we understand that the Holy Spirit of God is dwelling in us, we will not just be fascinated about spiritual growth but also presenting our temples as best as we can. No one put junk in Presidential palaces. Any intruder who tries to turn the streets of Luxurious Presidential Palaces into a junkie will be arrested. Imagine your body as the luxurious temple of the Holy Spirit… is the place safe? Are you taking care of this temple? Will you want to live in your own temple? Are people safe from breathing the air that comes from your temple? Is the environment of the temple clean enough to avoid bacterial and viral infections? Is the place full of only dark smoke? Are you just pouring tons of alcohol there? Can the Holy Spirit dwell comfortably in your temple?

“You were bought at a price. Therefore honour God with your bodies,” (1 Corinthians 6:20)

Your living sacrifice!

Sacrifices and offerings have been part of the worship of God since the very beginning. Cain and Abel. In Genesis chapter 4, we see the sacrifice from Cain and Abel and God accepting one and rejecting the other. The Bible is filled with verses on the different sacrifices made on the altar to please God. The sacrifice of Jesus on the cross brought an end to animal sacrifices. Jesus paid for our ultimate goal and as such, there was no need for physical altars to sacrifice animals. Jesus’ blood took away our sins and the power of the blood is still active and powerful for the forgiveness of all sins.

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. (Romans 12:1)

However, a permanent ordinance was established: if Jesus had died for our sins, then we should live for him. In living for Him, we present the totality of our beings to Him. We depend on him in total humility. We also bring unto Him our bodies as living sacrifices subjected under the control and leadership of Jesus. In fact, Paul calls this a living sacrifice: “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship” (Romans 12:1). When we come to Christ, we present our bodies as sacrifices on the altar and knowing that we are living sacrifices causes us to live Holy and blameless lives. 

Understanding this helps to put our lives in godly perspective. Whatever does not please God, is not preferred by us. We live each day to fully express our identity in Christ through our ways of life. We live intentionally in a bid to please the Father. We make conscious decisions to flee from the things that do not glorify God. We also depend on the Holy Spirit for reminding us of all the truth we have learned so we avoid the sins that so easily entangled us. All these are geared towards preparing a glorious church for the coming of the Lord. Since we are living sacrifices, we bear the marks of Christ wherever we go. We do not cover our scars because they point the world to the king of kings. 

So this is our mandate: Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:1‭-‬2)