Quality Of.....

As seen in the HEARTbeat and the Village Voice

“Quality Of…”

            We all strive for a better quality of life.  The fitness craze seems to be getting bigger and bigger every year.  We walk more, we swim more, we ride bicycles more, and we run on treadmills more.  Don’t believe me?  Just count the number of fitness commercials on TV beginning December the 1st of every year.  And the number one New Year’s resolution; lose weight!  We always want to be better for ourselves.

            Why do we strive for all this?  Weight in medieval times was considered a sign of wealth.  If you were able to eat a lot and gain weight, you had enough money and prestige to buy the food.  Take for instance Henry VIII.  When he was a prince, he was a stout 6’ 3” specimen weighing 200 pounds.  Henry loved all things athletic, even jousting.  It was an accident while competing that caused abscesses on one of his legs and he began to become sedentary.  Before his death, Henry’s waist measured 54 inches and his weight had reached 400 pounds.  It was said that two normal men could fit inside Henry’s pants!

            We put a lot of emphasis on the “here and now.”  We want better health, better relationships with others, and a better quality of life.  We have the freedom in our country to pursue such freedoms, but are we getting all we can get?  Several years ago, a beer company had the ad phrase, “You only go around once in life, so grab all the gusto you can.”  Pictured behind the words was a single man sailing his huge sailboat in the open ocean.  I don’t know about you, but sailing a boat on the open ocean is not my idea of gusto.  Frankly it would be terrifying.

            We want a better life for ourselves, but we give as much attention to the “here and now” as we do the “forever?”  I’ve seen people with terrified looks on their faces, knowing they were on death’s doorstep, facing a forever which before then had not been considered.  Fear of the unknown is real.  But I’m here to say it doesn’t have to be terrifying.

            Jesus died as a sacrifice for our sins.  But before He went to cross in our stead, He said, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full,” (John 10:10).  You mean we can have a full life with Jesus even before we die?  That is exactly what Jesus was telling those listening.  We just have to accept Him as Lord and Savior.  What about giving up some of the gusto habits we have?  Once you start to follow the teachings of Jesus, you’ll find giving up some old habits are easier than you thought, and causes you to have a better quality of life and walk with Christ.

            Quality of Life!  Don’t forget to exercise your spirit today by studying God’s Word to have a better quality of forever!!