We take it for granted until we learn there’s something wrong.

In a healthy human body, the heart and lungs are perfectly synced. They work together beautifully, just like our Creator made them.

When the anointed Psalmist David thought about it, the Spirit gave him these words (139:13-16).
“For You formed my inward parts;
You covered me in my mother’s womb.
I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Marvelous are Your works,
And that my soul knows very well.
My frame was not hidden from You,
When I was made in secret,
And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed.
And in Your book they all were written,
The days fashioned for me,
When as yet there were none of them.”

From the moment of life’s conception to its physical finality, the heart is the chief organ of our physiology. The human heart is the first organ to fully develop in the womb. The human heart muscle will beat 3 – 4 billion times in an average life span. But once your heart stops beating, you’re done on this side of eternity.

In a healthy human, the cardiovascular system works with an impeccable sense of rhythm. But when the heart beats too fast or too slow or suddenly stops, we have problems. Life-wise, if the lungs get compromised and can’t correctly breathe in enough oxygen and push out enough carbon dioxide, we’re in danger of respiratory arrest.

When your heart and lungs work healthily, the heart pumps oxygenated blood throughout your body. We are wonderfully created by God to thrive and give Him glory.

In a similar sense, I’m reminded of Christians. We are the born-again Body of Christ.

The heart of the church body is her pastoral leadership, which is appointed and anointed by our beloved Creator (Christ). This equipping heart is responsible for passionately serving.

Ephesians 4 describes this building (edifying) work like this: “And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ” (11-12).

Leadership pumps life throughout the Body’s many members. But this can only happen if the Body’s lungs maintain voluntary and involuntary submission to the head of the body, which is Christ the Lord. We are responsible for constantly breathing in the Spirit and pushing out the things that don’t belong. We’re given the imperative to “be filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18). As well, we’re told to “cleanse ourselves of all filthiness of the flesh and spirit” (2 Corinthians 7:1).

Good cardio health requires us to be active. What’s true for the physical body is also true for the Body of Christ. A sedentary lifestyle harms us from being as effective as we’re called to be. An active lifestyle helps us avoid unnecessary sicknesses.

Don’t take God’s cardiovascular system for granted. Get active today and live with gratitude.