“Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.” (1 Timothy 4:7–8, ESV)

A few years ago, I decided to start running. Several reasons motivated me to start running but chief among them was I recognized that my health was not moving in a positive direction. It was not that I had a health crisis or had received some troubling diagnosis but rather I recognized that the combination of not eating well and a lifestyle that was mostly sedentary was conspiring to rob me of energy and endurance.

When I began running, I did two things. First, I dramatically changed my diet. I cut out things that were high in sugar and salt and I cut my portion sizes. The second thing was I began to run every morning. Well, more accurately I attempted to run every morning.

When you go from a lifestyle of no exercise to daily exercise it is a painful transition. When I first started, I would set a time goal. Most days I could not run for the entire time, but I would keep moving until the time expired. Little by little my ability to keep running would increase but at first, the progress was so small that it seemed like I was not making any progress at all. Eventually, I transitioned to a distance goal but even then, I would often struggle to finish the distance without stopping to walk.

It seemed like a very hard and long process to get to the point where I was able to run the full distance goal without stopping. The process of disciplining my body to get to this point required much effort, sacrifice, and hardship. After reaching this goal I started working on running at a faster pace and increasing my mileage. At this point, running had become something that I enjoyed and looked forward to. 

But here is the truth that looms over me every day. For all the hard work I have put in I will not be able to keep or maintain what I have achieved. Even if I train faithfully every day for many years to come, eventually age will rob me of endurance and speed. Even now, an injury can disrupt and negate any gains that I have achieved. And beyond this is the knowledge that no matter how great my physical achievements may be, someday death will come and render them all worthless. 

This is Paul’s point to Timothy in 1 Timothy 4:6-16. Exercise has some benefits for the body, but it is temporary. However, when we develop lives of godliness through being nourished on the word and disciplining ourselves for God – these benefits are enjoyed presently and for all of eternity.

You are presently making a decision that is more important than what school you will attend, what career opportunities you will pursue, who you will choose to marry, where you will live, or how you will spend your retirement years. You are choosing what you will give your mind’s attention and heart’s passion to. Many will be seduced to give their mind’s attention only to the frivolities of entertainment and the temporal pursuits of career. Many will be lured into devoting their heart’s passion to causes and movements that promise to be life-changing but will prove to be built on sand and soon are washed away.

Here is my plea. Give your mind to the word of God. Feed on it. Consume it. Let it penetrate and saturate every part of your mind and heart. Add to this a life of discipline. Be disciplined for godliness – rejecting what does not honor God and pursuing what the Lord loves. And never lose sight of the goal. Do not live for today alone. Live for eternity. That you may attain the hope of salvation and that you might be a witness to many more for their salvation.

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