Amazing Machine

I was at an amusement park last week and had the opportunity to see an amazing car that was on display at the park.  Even though I stood right beside the car for at least an hour patiently waiting, I never got to go for a drive.  Apparently, this car was not one of the rides.  It was a beautiful, fast (0-60 in 3.7 seconds) and luxurious automobile.  I started dreaming that if I owned it of how well I would take care of it.  It would be one of the most babied cars in history.  Only premium gas and oil would go in.  No one would be allowed to eat in my car.  You would have to take off your shoes before entering it.  It would never get driven in the rain or snow.  I would only drive it so fast (pretty fast, but not ridiculously fast).  I would build a special heated garage for it.  I would wash it (give it a bath) at least every time I took it for a drive.  This car would be cared for as if it was a family member.

Most people probably can think of some item that they would, or do, take care of with similar care and protection.  Something they would lovingly watch over.  Well each of us has an amazing machine that we possess.  Something to cherish and care for.  It is definitely a family member.  Once it's gone, beaten up and used up, that's it, we can never get another one.  Of course I am talking about our physical bodies.  I believe that other than Jesus' love, His salvation and our families, God's greatest gift to any of us is our bodies.  The human body is an amazing machine.  It's functions are uniquely designed to do amazing things.  This possession can provide you with awesome pleasures and opportunities.  How well are you caring for this amazing machine that you have been given?

Think about my analogy.  I would only put premium fuel into my car, yet, what type of fuel (nutrition and hydration) am I putting into my body?  Am I providing the exercise that my body craves?  How about the rest?  I would never allow my car too be driven to fast or too far without proper breaks and maintenance.  Do you give your body the same breaks from stress and work?

A great difference between our bodies and my dream corvette is that our bodies can grow and adapt.  They are even better than that corvette.  Once the corvette rolls off the assembly line (they may be individually hand-crafted, not sure because I don't know that much about cars) it is pretty much going to start decaying and diminishing.  It will only ever go so fast.  What it is capable of is set at birth.  Our bodies, however, can change and adapt, our capabilities can grow.  Maybe you can only walk for ten minutes before you are out of breath and need a break this week.  Keep it up, by next week you can probably go 12-15 minutes and in a month, with diligence, you can probably accomplish 30 minutes and some sit-ups at the end.  The better stuff you put in your amazing machine, the better its performance.  Love and take care of your body.  Begin taking small steps today, to care for it.  The payoff will be huge in the end.