“Bodily exercise profits for a little while: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.” 1 Timothy 4:8
December 27, 2021 - After my open heart surgery many years ago, I began to slowly gain weight… and lose energy. It became a real struggle just to walk up the steep steps onto the porch or into my shop. I had gone on the Adkins grease- cheese and meat diet a few years ago and just couldn’t stick to a life without vegetables. So I decided to try a slightly modified South Beach approach with plenty of chicken and vegetables but no bread, potatoes, or sugar (low carbs).
I was surprised at how easy the new eating approach was to maintain. I didn’t go hungry, but slowly began to drop off the pounds. Pam and I started walking a mile and a half each morning and doing some light exercising. I couldn’t believe the difference this new life style began to make on my life both emotionally and physically. Within six weeks, I had lost over twenty pounds and felt better than I had felt in many years. Zipping up the steps beam effortless and my desire to work in my shop and do things I used to do became easier for me and I began looking forward to the activities of every new day.
I finally realized that if I wanted to stay healthy I’d have to eat right, exercise and control my weight. By the way, I found that the scripture “bodily exercise profits little” actually reads “profits for a little while” in the original Greek text. In other words, it will profit us as long as we are on the earth, but won’t be necessary when we get to heaven.
So I won’t have to make a new resolution to eat right, lose weight and exercise this New Year but will resolve not to stop doing what I have done for the last months. This new life style will help me maintain spiritual fitness too… the kind of exercise that profits… not for a little while… but forever.
