The Gospel of Pushups

There was a certain Professor of Religion named Dr. Christianson, a studious man who taught at a small college in the western United States. Dr. Christianson taught the required survey course in Christianity at this particular institution. Every student was required to take this course his or her freshman year, regardless of his or her major. Although Dr. Christianson tried hard to communicate the essence of the gospel in his class, he found that most of his students looked upon the course as nothing but required drudgery. Despite his best efforts, most students refused to take Christianity seriously.

This year, Dr. Christianson had a special student named Steve. Steve was only a freshman, but was studying with the intent of going onto seminary for the ministry. Steve was popular, he was well liked, and he was an imposing physical specimen. He was now the starting center on the school football team, and was the best student in the professor's class.

One day, Dr. Christianson asked Steve to stay after class so he could talk with him.

"How many push-ups can you do?"

Steve said, "I do about 200 every night."

"200? That's pretty good, Steve," Dr. Christianson said. "Do you think you could do 300?"

Steve replied, "I don't know... I've never done 300 at a time."

"Do you think you could?" again asked Dr. Christianson.

"Well, I can try," said Steve.

"Can you do 300 in sets of 10? I have a class project in mind and I need you to do about 300 push-ups in sets of ten for this to work. Can you do it? I need you to tell me you can do it," said the professor.

Steve said, "Well... I think I can...yeah, I can do it."

Dr. Christianson said, "Good. I need you to do this on Friday. Let me explain what I have in mind."

Friday came and Steve got to class early and sat in the front of the room. When class started, the professor pulled out a big box of donuts. No, these weren't the normal kinds of donuts, they were the extra fancy BIG kind, with cream centers and frosting swirls. Everyone was pretty excited it was Friday, the last class of the day, and they were going to get an early start on the weekend with a party in Dr. Christianson's class.

Dr. Christianson went to the first girl in the first row and asked, "Cynthia, do you want to have one of these donuts?"

Cynthia said, "Yes."

Dr. Christianson then turned to Steve and asked, "Steve, would you do ten push-ups so that Cynthia can have a donut?"

"Sure." Steve jumped down from his desk to do a quick ten. Then Steve again sat in his desk. Dr. Christianson put a donut on Cynthia's desk.

Dr. Christianson then went to Joe, the next person, and asked, "Joe, do you want a donut?"

Joe said, "Yes." Dr. Christianson asked, "Steve would you do ten push-ups so Joe can have a donut?"

Steve did ten push-ups, Joe got a donut. And so it went, down the first aisle, Steve did ten pushups for every person before they got their donut.

Walking down the second aisle, Dr. Christianson came to Scott. Scott was on the basketball team, and in as good condition as Steve. He was very popular and never lacking for female companionship.

When the professor asked, "Scott do you want a donut?"

Scott's reply was, "Well, can I do my own pushups?"

Dr. Christianson said, "No, Steve has to do them."

Then Scott said, "Well, I don't want one then."

Dr. Christianson shrugged and then turned to Steve and asked, "Steve, would you do ten pushups so Scott can have a donut he doesn't want?"

With perfect obedience Steve started to do ten pushups.

Scott said, "Hey, I said I didn't want one."

Dr. Christianson said, "Look, this is my classroom, my class, my desks, and these are my donuts. Just leave it on the desk if you don't want it." And he put a donut on Scott's desk.

Now by this time, Steve had begun to slow down a little. He just stayed on the floor between sets because it took too much effort to be getting up and down. You could start to see a little perspiration coming out around his brow.

Dr. Christianson started down the third row. Now the students were beginning to get a little angry. Dr. Christianson asked Jenny, "Jenny, do you want a donut?"

Sternly, Jenny said, "No."

Then Dr. Christianson asked Steve, "Steve, would you do ten more push-ups so Jenny can have a donut that she doesn't want?" Steve did ten....Jenny got a donut.

By now, a growing sense of uneasiness filled the room. The students were beginning to say "No" and there were all these uneaten donuts on the desks. Steve also had to really put forth a lot of extra effort to get these pushups done for each donut. There began to be a small pool of sweat on the floor beneath his face, his arms and brow were beginning to get red because of the physical effort involved.

Dr. Christianson asked Robert, who was the most vocal unbeliever in the class, to watch Steve do each push up to make sure he did the full ten pushups in a set because he couldn't bear to watch all of Steve's work for all of those uneaten donuts. He sent Robert over to where Steve was so Robert could count the set and watch Steve closely.

Dr. Christianson started down the fourth row. During his class, however, some students from other classes had wandered in and sat down on the steps along the radiators that ran down the sides of the room.

When the professor realized this, he did a quick count and saw that now there were 34 students in the room. He started to worry if Steve would be able to make it.

Dr. Christianson went on to the next person and the next and the next. Near the end of that row, Steve was really having a rough time. He was taking a lot more time to complete each set.

Steve asked Dr. Christianson, "Do I have to make my nose touch on each one?"

Dr. Christianson thought for a moment, "Well, they're your pushups. You are in charge now. You can do them any way that you want." And Dr. Christianson went on.

A few moments later, Jason, a recent transfer student, came to the room and was about to come in when all the students yelled in one voice, "NO, don't come in Stay out!"

Jason didn't know what was going on. Steve picked up his head and said, "No, let him come."

Professor Christianson said, "You realize that if Jason comes in you will have to do ten pushups for him?"

Steve said, "Yes, let him come in. Give him a donut."

Dr. Christianson said, "Okay, Steve, I'll let you get Jason's out of the way right now. Jason, do you want a donut?"

Jason, new to the room, hardly knew what was going on. "Yes," he said, "give me a donut."

"Steve, will you do ten push-ups so that Jason can have a donut?" Steve did ten pushups very slowly and with great effort. Jason, bewildered, was handed a donut and sat down.

Dr. Christianson finished the fourth row, and then started on those visitors seated by the heaters. Steve's arms were now shaking with each push-up in a struggle to lift himself against the force of gravity. By this time sweat was profusely dropping off of his face, there was no sound except his heavy breathing; there was not a dry eye in the room.

The very last two students in the room were two young women, both cheerleaders, and very popular. Dr. Christianson went to Linda, the second to last, and asked, "Linda, do you want a doughnut?"

Linda said, very sadly, "No, thank you."

Professor Christianson quietly asked, "Steve, would you do ten push-ups so that Linda can have a donut she doesn't want?" Grunting from the effort, Steve did ten very slow pushups for Linda.

Then Dr. Christianson turned to the last girl, Susan. "Susan, do you want a donut?"

Susan, with tears flowing down her face, began to cry. "Dr. Christianson, why can't I help him?"

Dr. Christianson, with tears of his own, said, "No, Steve has to do it alone, I have given him this task and he is in charge of seeing that everyone has an opportunity for a donut whether they want it or not. When I decided to have a party this last day of class, I looked my grade book. Steve here is the only student with a perfect grade. Everyone else has failed a test, skipped class, or offered me inferior work. Steve told me that in football practice, when a player messes up he must do push-ups. I told Steve that none of you could come to my party unless he paid the price by doing your push ups. He and I made a deal for your sakes."

"Steve, would you do ten push-ups so Susan can have a donut?" As Steve very slowly finished his last pushup, with the understanding that he had accomplished all that was required of him, having done 350 pushups, his arms buckled beneath him and he fell to the floor.

Dr. Christianson turned to the room and said. "And so it was, that our Savior, Jesus Christ, on the cross, plead to the Father, 'into thy hands I commend my spirit.' With the understanding that He had done everything that was required of Him, He yielded up His life. And like some of those in this room, many of us leave the gift on the desk, uneaten."

Two students helped Steve up off the floor and to a seat, physically exhausted, but wearing a thin smile.

"Well done, good and faithful servant," said the professor, adding, "Not all sermons are preached in words."

Turning to his class, the professor said, "My wish is that you might understand and fully comprehend all the riches of grace and mercy that have been given to you through the sacrifice of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He spared not only His Begotten Son, but gave Him up for us all, for the whole Church, now and forever. Whether or not we choose to accept His gift to us, the price has been paid."

"Wouldn't you be foolish and ungrateful to leave it lying on the desk?"

Building the Lord's Temple I

Context: King David took on the responsibility of charging his son to the construction of the temple, and in public address, commended unto his son the mammoth task. Until this point, the ethereal presence of the Lord's spirit resided upon the Ark of the Covenant, and did not have a fixed place of sanctuary. Just as the Israelites had established themselves in the promised land, it was now time for them to construct a place worthy of the God who had brought them out of Egypt and slavery.



1 Chronicles 28:8-10
"So now I charge you in the sight of all Israel and of the assembly of the LORD, and in the hearing of our God: Be careful to follow all the commands of the LORD your God, that you may possess this good land and pass it on as an inheritance to your descendants forever.
"And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts. If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will reject you forever.
Consider now, for the LORD has chosen you to build a temple as a sanctuary. Be strong and do the work."

David urges Solomon to do 3 things-
1.) acknowledge the God of your father
the KJV writes "know". The Hebrew word for acknowledge is "yada` yaw-dah' to know properly, to ascertain by seeing; used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially (including observation, care, recognition; and causatively, instruction, designation, punishment)
2.) serve (Hebrew: abad 'aw-bad'; to work; by implication, to serve, till, enslave, be keep in bondage, be bondmen, bond-service, serve, servant, worshipper) him with wholehearted devotion/(KJV) perfect heart (Hebrew: halem 'shaw-lame'; complete; full, just, made ready, peaceable, perfect, quiet)
3.) with a willing mind (Hebrew: chaphets 'khaw-fates'; pleased with:--delight in, desire, favour, please, have pleasure, whosoever would, willing, wish)




For us who are spiritual children of God and recepients of His inheritance, like Solomon, we too have been exhorted to building the temple of God- the residing place of the Holy Spirit-- both our spiritual Man, as well as the church that Christ loves so much. Equally for us, we are called to "know and serve Him with perfect hearts and willing minds".




In 'knowing' Him, the Bible teaches that we are to know Him properly, where the idea relates to some kind of observation that we make of Him through His instructions, plans and punishment. Just like a child gets to 'know' his father by interacting with him directly through talking with him, as well as by forming opinions and points of understanding through watching his father at work or in situations, so it is for us. By reading His word and studying God's graceful action throughout history in the Gospel, and by learning more of who He is, we are 'knowing' Him through the Bible, as well as how He works in our lives.

The call to 'serve' Him, is unconventionally the idea of working, and working as a slave- being kept in bondage as though there were a contract that held us to His service. Perhaps not so felt in our times, in the French Revolution of 1789, the members of the working class and farmers stormed the mansions and manors of their lords and ladies, only to set their contracts on fire if only to be free men! How interesting it is that the Bible says exactly the opposite- that our service to the Lord is to be like contracted slaves. And yet, there is also an element of worship in the word, implying that this voluntary submission is our worship! No wonder Paul says in Romans 12:1 "Therefore I urge you brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to Him- this is your spiritual act of worship". Our voluntary service IS worship! Our very lives are worship! And yet, King David tells his son to not just serve GOd like a slave, but to be a 'wholehearted' slave, or one wiht a 'perfect heart'- suggesting that the FULL devotion,or singleminded fidelity is required in the service of God. Jesus Himself echoed this in Matthew when He taught that no man can serve two masters- only one! Equally for us, are we serving Him alonewith that full, perfect and singleminded devotion?



Finally, the King urges his son to serve with 'a willing mind'- or one that derives pleasure from service. The service of the Lord is surely joy, and and is surely delight. As a friend once said, the call to serve GOd in whatever capacity must surely not be 'God's sucky will for my life' but must be planned for our benefit, for our good. Jeremiah 29:11 again says that "for I know the plans I ahve for you, says the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you- plans to give you a hope and a future". FOr those of us called to serve Him- there may be times of disappointment and frustration, but we must approach His service willingly, and gladly and joyfully- with the idea that we derive joy and pleasure from serving the King! Is that your approach to the project of building the church and the people of God?

Dear Lord,

we struggle with building your temple on your terms. And yet, there is no other way to do that holy task which you have set us aside to do. We know that in this day and age, our calling is still to build a place for your dwelling- to build both the church as well as our own lives since our very bodies are your temple. Make us pure and help us to live up to the detail and design that you have designed and enshrined for the Christian life. we want to be temples that shine in this world of darkness, temples that are a place of refuge and show a difference in this world. And yet we cannot do this on our terms, with our own hands. Help us to know you Lord, to see your works up close and in detail- help us do this wiht wholehearted singlemindedness. We want to do this Lord, and surely this prayer and plea for our heart's desire shows that we are willing. Make us the men and women you want us to be. We want to make you happy, we want to give you glory, we want to be Yours and YOurs alone. Help us to do this Lord, for your glory and your pleasure. When the world rises up against us and the cynicism and bitterness sets in, give us grace to be strong and be our mighty King leading us to triumph over these things. Thank you Lord Jesus- in whose precious name we pray all these things, Amen.

Reflections

"How great is our God,
Sing with me how great is our God!
And all will see how great, how great is our God!

Then sings my soul,
my Saviour, God to thee,
how great Thou art,
how great Thou art!"

God truly is amazing- reaching down from heaven to reconcile us to Himself in the person of Jesus, and then again and again to each one of us as we fall away from Him or get distracted byh the things of this world.

This week, I really felt like I was dealt the killer blow by those around me- the social floor on which I stood began to give way, and it felt like the waters were going to pull me under.

But it truly felt like Jesus reached out and picked me up and said "ye of little faith, know the fullness of my love" and helped me to stand on the waters again. In the most personal and private moments, His love shone through and reminded me of Psalm 16:2-3

"I said to the LORD, "You are my Lord;
apart from you I have no good thing.

As for the saints who are in the land,
they are the glorious ones in whom is all my delight."


Truly, Lord, who have I in heaven but you? What does my heart, broken and scarred by human hands matter- or my name, buried with filth and shame have anything to do with me? I am a sinner, nothing more. And you chose the foolish things of this world to shame the wise, and in my weakness, then I will trust in you. Lord, I'm sorry for doubting you as my Rock and my secure place. I'm sorry for wavering in my faith and like Peter, falling into that dark, cold water. Lord, as skeptical as I am of one off events, I want to use last night as a starting point of testimony for your work in my life. Let prayer and confession constantly be on my lips- help me to rely on you for more grace and more mercy. Thank you Lord- all these things I pray in the name of Jesus, Amen.