Michael Phelps has blown his competitors out of the water (pun intended) in Beijing! The 6'4" swimming machine explodes into the pool leaving others in his wake and collecting Gold medal after Gold.
How does he do it? Has he been gifted with a natural talent for swimming? I suppose that is a small piece of it. But I would be willing to bet that if you asked Phelps the secret to his success he would take you to the gym where he lifts weights and to the pool where he does over a hundred laps a day. The point is, Phelps has broken records and has his shelf lined with gold because he has worked for it.
It seems that there is a temptation for many of we humans to think that what we want most in life will just magically happen. We want instant wealth. We want to wake up one day and have the perfect realtionships. We want to accept Christ on Sunday and have mountain moving faith on Monday. The truth is, we are an impatient sort that think that everything we think we need and want out of life should have already been in our possession yesterday. The problem is that in our demand for instant gratification we sabotage the possibility of obtaining the good things we say we want for our relationship with God and others and ourselves. The truth we rather not hear is that the only reason Phelps is winning Gold and breaking records is because every day he goes to the gym and swims a hundred laps. He wins because he works.
I know...I will make some theologically nervous as I type these words, but the truth is those who win at anything including spirituality are those who work. No, work does not mean we earn or deserve God's free gift of salvation. The Bible is clear that we have a relationship with God now and forever by grace through faith in Christ not by works so that no one can boast (see Ephesians 2:8) However, there is a work to our faith that separates those who grow and mature in their faith from those who don't.
Philippians 2: 12-13 in the Bible says, "...continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and act according to his purpose." Notice how the Apostle Paul (the writer of the passage) sees no theological compromise in saying that faith is about God's work in us and our work in it. When we exercise our faith, we open ourselves to God being at work in us and when God is at work in us we are able to put our faith to work. One flows in and out of the other. Stop God's work in us and we are working in vain. Stop our work for God and we cut ourselves off from letting God work in us.
Do you want to have a mountain moving faith? Do you want to forgive the one who has done the unforgivable act? Do you want to be free of habits, hurts and hang-ups? Do you want to see God work in your relationships? Do you want to see God change your world? Then go swim a hundred laps; get to work.
Exercise your faith...hit your knees in prayer every day, don't just read, but meditate on the truths of the Bible, make a point to find somebody to serve everyday where you live your daily life, make your finances a spiritual matter, give up complaining and arguing, accept that the Bible says we cannot grow alone and get involved in more than an hour on Sunday--find a way to connect with other Followers of Christ for learning, caring and accountability (at Living Hope that's what small groups, celebrate recovery, prayer ministry for inner healing and Spiritual mentoring is all about), don't demand to stay where you are comfortable, give up what God calls you to give up and hang onto what God calls you to pick up! There is only one way to win...do the work. Jump in the pool and start swimming! Forget the short-cuts. Quit making excuses that others are more prone to grow spiritually than you. Stop blaming the circumstances of life or your personality.
One more thing...There was nothing easy about Phelps getting to be the fastest swimmer in the world, but I am pretty sure he would tell you that all the work was worth it. Go ahead...jump in the pool and swim a hundred laps and next thing you know you'll be hearing the witnesses in heaven shouting your name and chanting "Gold, Gold, Gold!" And you'll fall to your knees and bow your head and say, "Thank you, Father!" And in reply, he will say to you, "Well done my good and faithful servant." And in that moment all the sweat, blood and tears will quickly fade away and you will know that Jesus wasn't kidding when he told us that it would all be worth it.
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