My wife called it a spell, my Doctor called it an episode, and I just called it weird. Whatever it was, it resulted in a stress test to check out my heart. They wired me up (it's just not natural to shave your chest), prepared me for pictures (before and after), and told me to relax (fat chance). The treadmill was a fascinating experience. The incline keeps increasing so you have to go faster, with the general idea being to get your heart up to a target rate. I couldn't do it; not the treadmill, but the heart rate. Then they stopped the test.

Perhaps we need to have periodic spiritual treadmill tests.

I couldn't decide if that was good or bad. Did they stop because I was showing no signs of difficulty, or did they stop because I was in trouble? When the attendants did not come running in a panic, I decided probably I must be doing alright. I know someone must have known the answers I needed, but I could never get anyone to tell me anything. I decided that was part of the stress test. Finally everybody told me not to worry. Everything was fine. I had no problems. So why did I have the test? It was just a check-up to make sure.

Jesus talked quite a bit about our heart. He says that the way we speak reflects our heart, and our hearts will be where our treasure is. The Scriptures say that our Christianity is a matter of the heart. Perhaps we need to have periodic spiritual treadmill tests. And maybe that's what life is all about: a series of spiritual tests so we can check our heart. Life is too hard for me without giving my heart to Jesus. So I sometimes need to check where my heart is.

I don't know where your heart is, or how healthy it is ... but you need to know. I can help you with that; just let me know.

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Are you presently experiencing a new life? God's word says, "if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" This new life is a free gift of God through faith in Jesus Christ. If you want to know more about this life that only Jesus can give you, sign up for one of our Bible courses. Wherever you are in life, whatever you've done, you can begin again. You may also contact us at info@hopeforlife.org if you have questions about becoming a new creation.

 

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© 2007 Herald of Truth Ministries

Title: "Who Needs a Stress Test?"
Author: Steve Ridgell
Publication Date: May 30, 2007

The Secret Message of Jesus: Uncovering the Truth That Could Change Everything by Brian McLaren Unafraid of controversy or the uncomfortable gray areas of life, McLaren's quest is to find the essential message of Jesus' life - even if it overturns our conventional ideas, priorities, and practices.

Steve Ridgell serves as the Director of Ministry for Herald of Truth Ministries in Abilene, Texas and writes for Hopeforlife.org. You can reach him by writing to sridgell@heraldoftruth.org.

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