Fit for the Kingdom

When I was much younger (and some would say before the brain cells grew back!) I decided to take up marathon running.  In particular I wanted to run the Comrades Marathon, an ultra-marathon in South Africa of around 90 kilometers.  Before attempting it I started running shorter distances and races, and my boast was that I was fit and could easily run the Comrades.  I would get knowing looks from some of the veterans that I trained with!  How little I knew of what it would take.  How little I knew of the fitness and stamina that was required.  In fact, I began to wonder just how fit one needed to be; how would I know if I was fit enough?  The answer was simple: I would just have to get in the race!

When embarking on any journey in life the only way of knowing how fit we are, of knowing if we have the stamina to be able to endure, is to start on the journey.  As an ancient Japanese proverb states, "A journey of a thousand miles begins with one step". 

So it is with our Christian walk; our journey along the marathon of life.  Jesus said that if we don't endure, we are not "fit for the Kingdom" (Lk.9:62).  To be "fit" is to be well-placed; to be appropriate for service.  In order for us to pursue and persevere with Jesus, we need to be fit for the Kingdom.  And what is the best way for determining if we are fit enough?  Get in the race!  For example, how would we know if we are able to love like Christ?  Enter love!  We love others who may not love us back.  Whist running the risk of mixing metaphors…there has to be a time when we need to stop contemplating the field and actually put our hand to the plough.

Now ploughing can be a difficult skill.  I have never farmed, but I have watched programs where farmers plough the old-fashioned way.  Actually manning the equipment is difficult enough, but the most important skill required is keeping an eye on the mark.  They would use markers - during the Second World War they would plough at night and use people holding lamps to mark the way - so that the furrows would always be straight and parallel.  Without a marker the lines would go awry and the ploughing would be ruined.  If the ploughing was ruined then effectively the harvest would be too.  That is why Jesus said not to look back as we would lose sight of the marker and end up destroying the harvest that we each are meant to produce in our lives (Jn.15:8).

Just like a marathon, our journey requires endurance - to plough, plant and produce requires that we enter in and stay the course.  It can be difficult; it can demand some extraordinary effort; and sometimes we are in danger of giving it all up. 

This is the position that we find in the letter to the Hebrews.  The recipients were in danger of giving up; they had started the course and had lost sight of the marker.  The writer wanted them to get back on track; there was still a rich harvest to be gained.  He wanted them to be "fit for the Kingdom"!  His desire was to help keep their eyes fixed on Jesus (12:2), to help run the race marked out with endurance (12:1), and to receive the reward of the Kingdom that cannot be shaken (12:28). 

The letter to the Hebrews is no less important for us today.  This letter is written as a reminder of the marker, Jesus Christ.  Everything that we have ever learned or heard about is for those moments when we lose sight of Jesus; when we are tempted to give up, to look back and miss out on all that God has for us.

If I might offer a précis of the letter, in my own words, it would read like this:

“You heard from the prophets in the past; now hear from Jesus, the supreme one - Prophet, Priest and King. He is greater than angels; greater than Moses; greater than Joshua and Aaron. He is the great High Priest. So do not fall away but hold onto the promises you heard about from God.

None of the former things enabled you to enter God’s glory and rest; none of them could. You need something better - you need Jesus!

He is greater than the priesthood; He is greater than religious rituals; He is a better covenant - His sacrifice is above all others.

Don’t give up; don’t fall back; stay true. Remember all those heroes who have gone before: they made it, so have faith.  Endure with hope.  Live in love

Now that you are reminded of the superiority of Christ, live decently in accordance with all of who He is.

God will enable you...you can do it!”

  

In a world that desires to replace Jesus with whatever it can we need to be encouraged to stay the course, to make it to the end, to be fit for the Kingdom!