Get Off the Treadmill

1 Corinthians 9:24-27
[24] Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. [25] And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. [26] I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:

Treadmills are popular these days. I recently walked past a gym with a fine array of treadmills lined up in the window and each of them was occupied by a person either walking or jogging. One thought came to mind, “if jogging is so good, why aren’t they smiling”, and secondly “all that energy, all that exertion…and getting no where”.

A treadmill is an exercise device consisting of an endless belt on which a person can walk or jog without changing place. Just like the classic Disney movie theme song, The Lion King, many are on the “circle of life”. We tend to get on the treadmill of this earthly “life”, and can never seem to get off it. If we aren’t careful we find ourselves driven by the treadmill of this earthly life….and will never experience the pleasures of eternal life.

One writer described our modern life styles as “compulsive” - there is too much to do, all the time. Once on the treadmill, we can’t seem to get off. Or, put another way, the rats are winning the rat race. Anyone ever felt like that?
In the Spiritual, it is a trick of the devil to get us on a spiritual treadmill, walking the Christian walk but never getting anywhere. Just like the literal treadmill, the Spiritual treadmill is gaining popularity these days as Christians attend churches week after week while never developing a relationship with Jesus Christ.

One such “Spiritual Treadmill” is “works righteousness”. You can almost see the spiritual exhaustion in some people’s faces. They constantly worry about going to hell. "Have I done enough?" "Will I have time for one last prayer before I die?" "Where do I stand on the curve?" And even at the height of physical exhaustion, they dare not slow down or get off. So instead they seek to pay God off-through church attendance, through good deeds, and through non-stop working. Every sermon they hear on commitment only turns up the speed of the machine, makes the course steeper, and makes them think they’ll collapse any second. They never feel restful in their relationship with God.

Our pursuit needs to focus on developing a relationship with Jesus Christ and knowing Him more! His mercies are new every morning and in knowing Jesus you'll know the peace that passes all understanding. You can run with a smile on your face. That’s my five minutes!