Fit - By Food

As we conclude, in these last two days of this very different Ascension Week, as promised, we have been looking at a well-known and well-loved children’s hymn, Away In A Manger. We have seen how it has been most creatively and beautifully used to remind us more of Jesus’ Ascension.

One of my dear friends, who shared these thoughts with me, confessed that in all her years of knowing the hymn, she never saw the Ascension of our Lord in it. She was thrilled and surprised as she said to me, “I never knew there was so much about our Lord’s Ascension in this carol!” I am sure, like my friend and I, many of you have received something more, have discovered something new and desire to live more of the meaning of our Lord’s Ascension in your daily lives. I’m quite certain also that we all are interestingly curious to know more about, or be reminded of how we are fit for heaven, to be with Jesus, where He is. Additionally, and perhaps even more critical, is how are we responding to all that He is presently doing in us. Here again are the lines which have triggered our most urgent concern.

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Bless all the dear children in Thy tender care,

And fit us for heaven to live with Thee there

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In our context, not the hymn’s perhaps, the concept and understanding of the word children includes all people who belong to the Father. This is what we read and attest to as recorded in Isaiah 64: 8. Yet you, LORD, are our Father. We are the clay and you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand. Now is this not wonderful, marvellous and utterly stupendous, when we can testify with our lives and our lips, to the unfailing Love of God our Father? Listen to 1 John 3: 1. See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.

Finally, how can we not bow in deep reverence and utter humility, when Jesus, the One and only Begotten of the Father, in teaching us to pray to His Father, leads, guides and instructs us in prayer? In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Matthew 6: 9 NKJV. Without fear of speaking what is untrue, we who believe in Jesus and have given our lives to Him, can boldly say that in Him and through Him, we know His Father in heaven as our Father in heaven also. But even more glorious and totally unbelievable, is the fact that we, earthlings, have been given grace and privilege to address Him as Father – our Father.

Notwithstanding, the burning question is still to be addressed. How does Jesus fit us for heaven? As previously stated, we are coming to this through these three main areas: Food, Exercise and Rest.

Food

When my cousin was being made fit for carnival, her personal fitness instructor, ensured that she adhered strictly to the diet he gave to her. She was given no leeway or options. She had to stick to that diet if she was serious about being fit and ready for that day. If we are to be spiritually fit for heaven, we must eat the food Jesus prescribes and supplies. No other food will do us any good. The Bible is replete with the food Jesus feeds, but this one has been chosen for us.

Listen to Jesus as He speaks to His followers. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in them. Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me. John 6: 56 – 57. Eat Jesus, the Bread of Life and everyone who does this will be fit for heaven. There is no other food that will keep us fit, ready and prepared for when Jesus returns for His own. There is no other food that guarantees us perfect form and fitness for our Returning King, Jesus. Remember Jesus’ retort to the evil one who was tempting Him on food? Jesus answered, It is written: Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God. Matthew 4: 4. Jesus is the Living Word who has come from God.