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Home My WebLink AboutThe Citizen, 1987-11-04, Page 23From the Minister's Study THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 1987. PAGE 23. Are you in shape for journey of faith? BY REV. BONNIE LAMBLE WALTON-BLUE VALE PASTORAL CHARGE Recently world champion sprin ter Ben Johnston returned home to Canada. Bill as the fastest man in the world he received a hero’s welcome when he arrived back in the country. As a world class runner Johnston knows very well what is involved in a race. It requires that he be in good physical shape, that he be disciplined and that he keep his focus firmly on the finish line. In writing to the church at Philippi. Paul uses the image of the runner to encourage the faithful. Too little faith, minister says Rev. Lorenzo Ramirez based his sermon Sunday morning in Blyth United Church on the story of the four friends who brought the paralized man to Jesus. He said that they showed a genuine faith and persistence by going so far as to make a hole in the roof of the house so that they could lower him to where Jesus was. “They were reliable friends - and must have had real faith in Jesus' ability to heal their friend” he said. Being a Christian is like being in a race. It requires that we be in good shape, that we be disciplined and that we keep our focus firmly on the finish line. Fitness Canada, in its efforts to encourage Canadians to become more physically fit, has an annual program of testing people for their physical fitness. 1 wonder what kinds of results would be found if someone began testing us for our spiritual fitness? How easy is it for us to praise and glorify God? How easy is it for us to offer thanksgiv ing for God’s goodness and love? How easy is it for us to pray? How well do we hear God’s speaking to each one of us? Is the spiritual part “ Do we put too much value on material things today and have too little faith”, he asked. The choir sang ‘‘Heaven came down and filled my soul.” Rev. Ramirez in his conversation with the children, talked about theirdressingupfor Halloween and pretending their were some one else. Diane Higgins was their leader. John and Vera Hesselwood were the greeters. of our being alive and well? Just as it requires some action to keep our bodies in good physical shape, so it requires action to keep our spirit ual lives healthy. We can worship regularly, have a devotional time with Bible reading and prayer, say grace at mealtimes, pray with our children and speak toGod as we go about our daily affairs. Running takes discipline, espe cially when the going or even the training gets rough. Likewise in our faith experiences, it takes discipline to keep on going when things are tough. When we experience troubled times, it is very tempting to throw in the towel. But as Paul reminds us, our faith journey can be at times strenuous and we may have to strain to be able to stay in the race. Bu t we are tobe disciplined enough to keep on going. Paul also reminds us of where our focus should be. ‘‘Forgetting all that lies behind me and straining forward to what lies in front, I am racing towards the finishing-point to win the prize of God’s heavenly call to Christ Jesus. ” (Phillipians3:13) I wonder where we focus. Are we looking ahead towhere Christis calling us? Are we focusing where we are right now? Or is our focus back in the past at someplace we have already been? We are in a time of tremendous change in our world. It is tempting totry todo something to stop all that change, to preserve what we can of the past. And we can bring that attitude to our church com munity. Wecanbetemptedtokeep everything the way it used to be. But that is not staying in the race. It is important that the church address the problem we have in coping with rapid change but that does not mean keeping the church as a museum to the past. We need to be open and alive to what is happening now and to where Christ is leading us forward. The good runner has the finish line clearly etched into his or her imagination and concentrates on getting there faster than anyone else. In our spiritual journey we are invited to imagine where Christ is calling us and focus on getting there. Paul reminds the Philip- pians that this is the way that they should be thinking if they are mature. They are to concentrate on moving forward. There is a great deal in that image Paul uses about running the race of faith. In Paul’s own words let us think maturely and let us go forward. Blyth Christian Reformed Church HIGHWAY 4, BLYTH Rev. 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