To have the body like that of Muhammad Ali in his prime was the wish of every young man a few decades ago. Bodybuilding has come into vogue again in the form of workouts in the local gym coupled with a course of performance enhancing drugs.
In the old days the Charles Atlas adverts appeared in many magazines. They showed a picture of a bloke flexing his muscles with the caption, “You too can have a body like mine”. Many skinny fellows tried in vain to alter the way nature had made them. Now it’s possible to inject anabolic steroids into the muscles to promote growth and produce a body that would make Charles Atlas proud!
Of course it does not happen by itself. Workouts at the local gym 5 nights a week along with plenty of jogging are part of the mix. Then there are the protein bars sold in filling stations along with protein-based snacks available in convenience stores.

It’s illegal to procure anabolic steroids without a prescription but tablets can be bought on the internet and can be obtained in many gyms. The side effects include liver and heart problems as well as aggression and mood swings which can become hard to control. The treatment is similar to the hormone implants in cattle which increases muscle weight and makes them behave like bulls. The practice is banned in this country.
The Bible does not have a lot of time for strong men. There was only one Samson and he is not one to emulate! In fact when the Prophet Samuel was looking for a King to succeed Saul he was led to David with the instruction “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature…for the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance but the Lord looks on the heart” (1 Samuel Chapter 16 verse 7).
This is further emphasised when Zerubbabel is instructed that the Lord works, “Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit” (Zechariah Chapter 4 verse 6). So it’s not muscle power but prayer and petition to the Lord that brings about change.
Speaking of Jesus, Isaiah says that there was no beauty that we should desire him. He was destined to carry our sins, be smitten by God and afflicted for us! But it is with these wounds, made at the cross, that we are healed (Chapter 53 verses 4 & 5).
When St Paul thought he would be a better Apostle if his body was in better shape his prayers were not answered in the way he had hoped. Instead the Lord said, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, (wrote St Paul) I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong (2 Corinthians Chapter 12 verses 9 to 12).
Many things in God’s economy are the opposite of the world’s values. In God’s Kingdom his strength comes via our weakness. The only workout the Bible speaks of is in Philippians Chapter 3 verse 12 “Work out your own salvation in fear and trembling for it is God who works in you, both to do and to will his good pleasure”.
The perfect body comes in the glory!