|
THE BIGGEST LOSER By Jean Jantzen
Living Vision starts with the type of vision Webster defines as "the ability to perceive something not actually visible, as through mental acuteness or keen foresight." It is broader than merely wishing for something. It is deeper than simply wanting more. It is the ability to envision a desirable future with such clarity you can see plainly the steps you must take to get there. Having a vision is key to major success. (Dayton Business Journal - by Craig Steffen) Have you ever watched The Biggest Loser, a reality show, where twelve overweight contestants work hard to become fit and lose the biggest amount of weight? I was watching the Australian version and they were down to the last three finalists. The contestants were excited and anxious because the finish was looming large and they had a lot of work to do before being crowned the biggest loser. In an unexpected twist, nine players returned to the house and the three finalists were told one of the nine would have a chance at becoming the winner as well as them. The finalists were indignant, the returnees resentful, some verbally venting their frustrations. The finalists got caught up in the emotion of it all. Bob Harper, one of the trainers, concerned and committed to helping the contestants be fit and lose weight, told the three finalists. "You know there is a lot of tension in the house right now, a lot of resentment and pent up emotions coming to the surface, but you three are very strong," he said, " You three have to put all that aside…you have to remain focused, keep your mind and effort on your goal. You can do it." In other words they needed to maintain their vision. Wise words coming from a physical trainer! We can learn some lessons here as well…we too can see the end of our race looming on the horizon, but sometimes we get our mind off the reason for this physical life and our mind off the goal. Our journey has been remarkable, occasionally exhilarating, sometimes a hard, exhausting, frustrating race for some who have suffered various trying times like health problems, discouragement, financial setbacks, old age, loss, etc. But we should remember why we are here. Like those three finalists who worked very hard to lose weight and were joyous in their progress, we too can be joyous in our achievements along the way, but their focus had to be on the end product…the slim body. And our focus…an upcoming spiritual body. But no matter what crosses our path, upheaval, trials, stumbling blocks, the Bible says we are to "run with patience (endurance, persistence) the race set before us, looking unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith ... For consider Him that endured ... lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds." (Hebrews 12:1-3) From these scriptures we see -- the need for endurance; the focus of our vision; keeping the rules; self-discipline; and the desire and determination to win. Solomon says in Proverbs, "Where there is no vision, the people will cast off restraint." Like the overweight contestants, if they or we forget why we are here, we will become vulnerable to defeat and failure. Frank Brown, former regional director in Britain, Scandinavia, Africa and the Middle East said he thought "Mr. Herbert Armstrong’s greatest attribute, apart from his desire to do God’s work, was his clarity of vision. He had the rare ability to think far into the future and vision not only what God was leading him to do, but its ultimate outcome. Mr. Armstrong was truly a visionary…." W alking with God is an uphill climb. We "grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior." (2 Peter 3:18) We are to ever be "increasing in the knowledge of God ..." (Colossians 1:10) It is a daily thing—this walk with God…like losing weight…you can’t just watch what you eat on occasion or exercise the odd time. You need dedication and zeal and passion. You have to keep your mind’s eye on that far off "city" that exists at the end of it all each and every day.Ali Vincent, a hairdresser from Mesa, Arizona is the first woman to win the Biggest Loser USA. She lost more than half her body weight, but gained a whole new perspective on life. She says, "I am a whole new woman. There are no limits. There are absolutely no limits and I started to dream big again." It’s obvious she had that living vision. Ali Vincent, 32, started the show tipping the scales at 234 pounds and ended it weighing 122 pounds. ‘Nobody can take this away from me,’ she recalled. ‘I’m going to do it. I’m going to go back there and I’m going to stand on that stage, even if it’s with the at-home people, and I am going to be the Biggest Loser.’ That’s the type of attitude we need to have. She teamed with Jillian Michaels, the other trainer, upon her return to the show. Michaels described their workouts as "beatings — eight hours a day… sometimes ten toward the end." And Vincent was in for the long haul because she had a vision of herself standing on that weigh scale just a shadow of her former overweight self. "The tears ended after about week three," Michaels said to the media. "It was just, ‘Tell me what I need to do.’ She just took every single order. She did everything that I asked for." Ali had a trainer who helped her every step of the way. And Ali was a willing, malleable piece of clay. Her trainer was energetic and motivating, always encouraging her to reach maximum performance…even being her mentor and offering a strong shoulder to cry on. We, too have a loving Shepherd who guides us and provides our needs, emotionally, physically and spiritually, every step of the way. God is at work in us now to prepare us for the days that lie ahead. We must not take lightly this time of preparation. An important part of God's training program is becoming sure-footed. Before we can compete we must become "established," firmly rooted, "grounded and settled in the faith." (1 Thessalonians 3:13; Colossians 1:22, 23; 2:7) Are we willing to do everything God asks of us? Are we willing to sacrifice…to work hard to prepare ourselves for that new spiritual body Christ has promised us and to live in the holy city? Are we willing to ask like the winner of The Biggest Loser, "tell me what I need to do?" Many instead focus on the initial speed of their progress, but overlook one far greater factor of successful athletic competition: consistency. We may start out in the front lines, leading, but if our progress is not consistent -- if we become entangled with the affairs of this life (2 Timothy 2:4; Galatians 5:1) – we may lose sight of the goal…. falling back as we weary with the stress of the race. Remember when we first were called and the great zeal we had for God’s word and for the Sabbath and holy days. We need to be like the prophets of old whose living vision allowed them to see with great clarity, the holy city. While they sojourned here on earth they only had minds and hearts for that better country up ahead…that holy city prepared for them by God. (Hebrews 11) Consistency characterizes character and spiritual maturity. The Apostle Paul was intensely concerned about consistency. He guarded his behavior for fear that he would undermine his own witness, thus causing someone to stumble and others to reject the Gospel of Jesus Christ. "But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified" (1 Corinthians 9:27). Paul’s desire was principally to bring honor to Jesus Christ. Consequently, he struggled against the lusts of the flesh and the pride of life. He knew that being a follower of Christ demands consistency in thought and conduct. We must strive as conscientiously as Paul did to be consistent, to be trustworthy and blameless. We also need passion…passion about the truth…passion about what we believe in, passion about this way of life. Yet there are many who show by the way they live, that they do not love the truth. They may believe the truth, and possibly even admire the truth. They may defend the truth, and perhaps even preach the truth. But they do not love the truth. They lack passion in their walk with God. It was Ali’s passion that drove her to work ten hours a day. It was her passion that got her to lose 112 pounds. It was her passion that she won the title of the Biggest Loser. It was her passion to change her life for good. Ali became the person she wanted to be, instead of just thinking about it. "It was her living vision of that slender body that made the transformation possible. Paul says, The prophets "all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth." They each had a living vision which made them succeed. We need to capture that living vision and run with all our might and then God will say to us, too, "Well done good and faithful servant… Enter into the joy of your lord" (Mathew 25:23). Then we can say with David, "You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy…" (Psalm 30:11).
|
Send mail to
johncoish@rogers.com
with questions or comments about this web site.
|