I’ve visited a lot of gyms in my life, in both the military and the civilian world. Even though I’m not one of them, I’m sure that you, like me, have seen muscle-bound men and women who frequent such establishments. We’re also aware that many other people use these gyms who, as a result of availing themselves of such establishments, are at various stages of physical fitness. Maybe they’re new to the process. Some take their exercise very seriously. You can tell when a person’s been working out over a period of months or years.
The NT tells us that everybody uses a gym. Peter and the author of Hebrews use a verb that is translated “to train,” from which we get our word “gym.” Perhaps we could translate it “to use the gym.” These passages tell us that some people use a gym we might call “Planet Immorality.” Others use one we might call “Planet Morality.”
Peter describes people who have worked out at Planet Immorality and are very experienced at it. He refers to false teachers whose muscles of depravity are easy to see. They flaunt their sexual immorality and greed. He says that they cannot stop sinning and that they encourage others to follow their example. They have become that way because their hearts are “trained” in these activities. It is as if they have gone to the gym to exercise these qualities (2 Pet 2:14). They are good at being bad. They are the Arnold Schwarzenegger of immorality.
The author of Hebrews speaks of people who frequent another gym: Planet Morality. He speaks of believers who study the Word of God and put it into use. The Scriptures are like a set of weights. As these believers pump the iron of God’s Word, they “exercise” or “train” (same word used in 2 Pet 2:14) their senses. They become spiritually fit and can discern what is good and avoid evil (Heb 5:14). If we could see their spiritual muscles, we would see people who are able to do those things that please the Lord. These are the Arnold Schwarzeneggers of virtue.
The lesson in these two passages is easy to see. We develop certain qualities by putting them into practice, just as a fit person becomes more fit by lifting weights. This can be negative or positive.
But we should not suppose that only unbelievers visit Planet Immorality. Peter warns his believing readers that they can be fooled by unbelievers with large “sin muscles.” These believers can choose to follow the example of those who are strong and experienced when it comes to sexual immorality and greed. Believers can work out with the weights at Planet Immorality and become adept at using them. Even though they can never lose eternal life, believers are capable of any sin and immoral act that unbelievers can commit.
The gym I’ve called Planet Immorality is packed full. All unbelievers work out there. Some are stronger in their visible immorality than others. Unfortunately, many Christians also come and work out there.
But as Christians, we have a membership in another gym. We have the privilege of going there and becoming spiritually fit. There will be different levels of that fitness. When people look at our lives, may it be easy be for them to see that we’ve been working out with the weights of God’s Word. May we pray that the longer we’re believers, the larger our spiritual muscles will be.
