Hypothetically speaking

I recently saw a commercial that I thought was interesting. Unlike many commercials, it wasn't pushing a product...or saying why the competition is just not as good...it was encouraging people to vote.


The commercial asks a bunch of "What if..." questions.The commercial challenges everyone to care enough to vote. Then, to care about things every day as much as some people have cared about certain things in the months directly before an election. The commercial called for a change in our person, so that we may cause a change in our culture...one that tends to be apathetic. Apathy can kill a person's spiritual life. If a person is apathetic, there is no motivation. If there is no motivation, there is no effort. If there is no effort, there is stagnation...and stagnation is one of the most difficult things to overcome in our spiritual lives.

Numerous times in the New Testament, having faith is likened to running a race. If you're not in the habit of running (or jogging) every day, it is difficult to make yourself run...that's the effect of stagnation. But, if you make yourself run for a few days, it will become easier to be self-motivated. Then, you may even become addicted to it...many distance runners and world-class sprinters experience something called "Runner's high."You can click the link to read more about runner's high, but basically, when you work out enough to begin breaking down muscle, the body releases endorphins (a self-made pain killer comparable to morphine) that allow the individual not to feel the pain, instead they feel a bit of euphoric as endorphins act like many man-made opiates. Once the person has a chance to rest, the body stops producing these endorphins, which is why most people don't experience soreness until a few hours after they work out or run. Now, back to spirituality and such...

When we stop actively seeking a relationship with God, it can become easier and easier just "not to do" this or that...and neglect our spiritual lives. But, all it takes is a bit of initiative to break the cycle. The commercial I mentioned above was trying to encourage people to break the cycle of not caring about voting. The commercial asks numerous hypothetical (What if...) questions. Many of these would work well for challenging Christians... I've got one more for you:

What if we stopped asking hypothetical questions, and just started doing what Christ taught us?

"Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.
Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air." 1 Corinthians 9: 24-26