I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe. All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.
John 6:35-40
LEARN
Over the past year I have been seeing more and more Christian health coaches on social media talking about how getting fit has literally changed their lives. That they now have purpose and identity and they are living into their full potential for Christ. I don’t doubt they mean well when they share things like this, but what they are claiming is far from Biblical truth and this is why.
The slogan for a popular fitness company that uses health coaches to promote their products and live out their vision has a very worrisome motto. Their motto is “to help people achieve their goals to lead healthy, fulfilling lives.” Now, I am all on board for what they do in helping people lead healthy lives and achieve their health goals, but I do not agree they are helping people lead fulfilling lives. We know that Biblically the only fulfilling life is one that is focused on Jesus as the source of our identity, not fitness. It is not fitness that will fulfill you, but Jesus.
THE LIE THEY ARE SPREADING:
A healthy & fit body gives you fulfillment and identity.
THE BIBLICAL TRUTH WE SHOULD BE SPREADING:
A healthy and fit body can be a means to glorify God, but fulfillment and identity is found in Christ.
We must be watchful of the things we allow to seep into our thoughts that aren’t Biblical. Even if they are well-intended. I have no doubt the women posting about their fitness makeovers are more confident in their bodies, but confidence and happiness are not the same as having joy and ultimate fulfillment. Their confidence is only as deep as their bodies are fit, and their happiness I assure you will waver if it is not grounded in the joy of the Lord.
Just the other day I watched a documentary on Netflix about a man who did a bunch of triathlons in one year, but was left unsatisfied so he decided to do 50 triathlons in 50 days in 50 states, and run to raise money for a charity. Wow! It really is quite the human accomplishment to attempt something like that and do it for a good cause. But what stuck out to me even more than his drive was the WHY behind his motivation and the sacrifices he took in order to do so. He was not a Christian, and the documentary wasn’t focusing on the spiritual implications of his WHY but it made me realize how lost people are when they buy into lies. As Christians we are called to sacrifice our lives for God, and in Him we find fulfillment, but here in this documentary I was literally watching someone almost kill themselves because they felt it would give them purpose. He seemed to believe that this accomplishment would fill the void of “not enough” when he completed it. I don’t want to spoil the rest of the documentary for you, but I am curious if he did finish what he set out to do that he now feels satisfied, that ultimately all the pain and putting his family second over this goal he had was worth it. I saw dedication yes, but at the cost of sacrificing his responsibilities as a father, husband, and even to his own body for what gain? For what consequences in the future? For what existential purpose? Watching that documentary made me more aware of the importance we have as Christians to share the Gospel. To give people hope and purpose that is more than just our measure of fitness. That people can have what they are looking for - lasting fulfillment, contentment, and any sense of identity that is worth identifying with if they turn to Christ.
I also want to say this to you who may also feel this way. You don’t need triathlons, or a perfect body, or perfect health to fulfill you, you need Jesus. So go run the marathon, go workout at the gym, go eat healthy, these are all good things to do for fun, or for health, or to be a good steward of your body, but don’t do those things in hopes of finding fulfillment; In hopes of having that craving of “more” finally be satisfied, because it won’t. That craving will only be stopped when your hunger and thirst is met through the bread of Life, Jesus Christ!
KNOW
Do you believe that Jesus is better than anything else? This song below is one of my favorite songs and is such an important and powerful song to sing that we need to not only declare but pray that our hearts believe that Jesus truly is better!
Jesus is Better
by Austin Stone Music https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vTewCIvR7Og
In all my sorrows, Jesus is better
make my heart believe
In all my victories, Jesus is better
make my heart believe
Than any comfort, Jesus is better
make my heart believe
More than all riches, Jesus is better
make my heart believe
Our souls declaring, Jesus is better
make my heart believe
Our song eternal, Jesus is better - make my heart believe
DO
-Read the word and meditate on scriptures about your identity and the fulfillment that is found in Christ.
-Pray that God will reveal himself to you and give you peace in your soul
-Find a Christian mentor who can help you, one that understands it is Jesus that ultimately fulfills us. (If you are in need of a Christian Health mentor reach out to us at womenbecomingwhole@gmail.com and we will match you with one!)
