FIT

21                Fit

 

1.   Fit--- (of a thing) of a suitable quality, standard, or type to meet the required purpose:

 

Fit reads the dictionary. To meet the required purpose.

 

Found only in Luke’s writing twice, translated as “fit.”

 

Luke 9:62 And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.    KJV

 

To not meet the required purpose… Not suitable… Lacked the quality… Wasn’t up to the standard…

 

Luke records the word “fit” again with the same meaning…

 

Luke 14:34 Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned?

35 It is neither fit for the land, nor yet for the dunghill; but men cast it out. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.     KJV

 

It isn’t fit for the land, and Jesus is recorded of Luke both times and Jesus said of salt that has lost his savour is not only not “fit” for the land, but is not even “fit” for the dunghill. Can’t get anymore useless than that. Jesus went on to say but men cast it out.

 

How does not being able to “fit” even happen?

 

I point out that the man that puts his hand to the plough and looks back is not fit…

·       Meaning that the man at one time was “fit.”

·       The man when he first started, he “fit.”

·       When the man first began and laid his hands upon the plough, he “fit.”

 

When the salt was new. When the salt was fresh. When the salt before time, weather, moisture, and the adverse conditions touched the salt was “fit.”

·       It had a savour.

·       The salt had a taste.

·       The salt also in its beginning was “fit.”

 

I think of that. What a powerful thought to think that in both, there was a time, a moment where the salt and the man “fit” the purpose. They measured up to the task. They in the beginning were well able to complete the purpose at hand.

 

But time, condition, the surroundings affected the man and the salt. The man looked back. The salt too, lost its purpose.

 

How? What is the one thing? What could it have been? Conditions dictated you no longer “fit.”

 

The thing is, the man didn’t have to look back. And the salt if not exposed to that which caused it to lose its shelf life. We would not even be reading Luke’s writing of Jesus simply saying of the man, “your not fit.” And of the salt, “is not fit.”

 

How sad to hear two words, “not fit.”

 

What of us? I ask of myself with certain reservation in myself.

·       What is that thing that can make me look back?

·       What is that element, that certain condition that is adverse to me that can say, “not fit?”

 

Luke 13:25 When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are:

26 Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets.

27 But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity.    KJV

 

Luke again writes and again its Jesus speaking. How does this merit Jesus to say such? Somebody wasn’t “fit.”

 

Matt 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord , have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.    KJV

 

Matthew records much the same here as Luke did, and the question is answered again the same even of those who said, Lord, Lord. And yes, even prophesied in HIS name and cast out devils in HIS name. Yes, the wonderful works in HIS name. And to hear the words of the master, depart from me, I never knew you.

 

How can this be? Somebody wasn’t “fit.”

 

·       What I could have been I wasn’t.

·       What I should have been I wasn’t.

·       Where I could have gone and should have gone, I didn’t.

 

The salt had lost his savour. The man looked back. The outside elements, and the conditions determined for the salt and the man. You no longer “fit.”

 

The preacher said.

Eccl 11:4 He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap.

 

When this is reaction to the surroundings, the conditions both inward and outward, the wind, the rain, the drought, the cold, the heat of the sun. Somebody decided to look back, the salt lost his savour. Conditions were allowed to determine for us we don’t “fit.”

 

5 As thou knowest not what is the way of the spirit, nor how the bones do grow in the womb of her that is with child: even so thou knowest not the works of God who maketh all.

6 In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand: for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good.    KJV

 

Mustn’t regard it. Life is life. Some things cannot be stayed. Cancer still happens. The heart can stop in a moment. Loved ones can be taken without warning. Violence still can affect us all. We all could be the innocent bystander. Time and chance happens to all, says the preacher. But I notice this whatever the occurrence is, good or bad. What we must do is control whether we “fit” or “not fit.”

 

Heb 6:7 For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God:

8 But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned.    KJV

 

God help me to “fit.” I ask do you “fit?”