Last Sunday in our church the preaching was on the Parable of the Sower. (Mark 4:1-20) This got me thinking about how different ones respond to the message of Fit For Life Forever. Bear with me and I’ll explain…

‘Some fell by the wayside’  (v4) I have just got back from Canada where I had been ministering alongside my husband. I had the opportunity to share about my programme and had resources available for people to purchase. Some were very interested whilst others – often the ones who appeared to be most in need of the message! – gave me a wide berth.  For such (although I dare not judge their hearts) it would seem that the seed just fell by the wayside.. ‘Thank you, but no thank you,’ was the subliminal message they gave out.  It was the same when I exhibited at the Christian Resources Exhibition: some were drawn to the stall and said that Fit For Life Forever was an answer to prayer whilst others, having glanced up to see what I was about, quickly diverted their gaze and rushed by.

‘And some seed fell on stony ground, where it did not have much earth and immediately it sprang up …. But when the sun was up it was scorched and because it had no root it withered away.’ (v5-6)  Jesus explained this category as those who receive the message joyfully but because they have no root in themselves they only endure for a time… then they stumble. (v 16-17)  The key phrase for me in this (as it relates to Fit For Life Forever) is that these people did not have any root in themselves.  Perhaps they were carried away by the testimony or enthusiasm of others or were emotionally inspired by the book. They joyfully embark on the course but without a spiritual tap root; without any real sense of doing this as unto the Lord in order to have a Spirit-controlled lifestyle, it just becomes like another diet and when the going gets tough they give up.

‘And some seed fell among thorns; and the thorns grew up and choked it and it yielded no crop.’ (v 7) Jesus likens such seed to people who, because of the cares of the world … and desire for other things (delectable food?) become unfruitful. (v 18-19)  I have known many who began well on this course and seemed to be making real progress but then some unforeseen crisis threw them completely off balance -  maybe a job loss or some family problem or ill health – and they went running back to their old familiar source of comfort and relief – FOOD.  And as for the desire for ‘other things’ what I have observed in my own life is that my heart will always have desires and that if I don’t make Jesus my one and only true treasure then I run the risk of misplacing my affections, losing my focus and going off course. Temptations to overeat will certainly come so be warned – you may not choke on your food but your good intentions can so easily be choked out making you unfruitful. 

If any of the above apply to you it doesn’t have to be terminal. We all slip up from time to time and failure is simply an opportunity to start over again more intelligently. The Devil would seek to thwart our efforts, but we are not ignorant of his devices. If you are convicted by this short message, then you must do something.  Right now just turn your heart to God in prayer.  Confess your sin and your helplessness to achieve any of your goals in your own strength. Then receive forgiveness and grace to help in your time of need. Finally, hold fast the confession of your hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.’ (Hebrews 10: 23)

God will cause you to bear fruit. If it is 30 fold or 60 fold then rejoice in that – it’s better than you’ve done before! But believe for God’s best – 100 fold fruit – a truly healthy body with the size and shape which God intended personally for you. Don’t worry if it doesn’t happen overnight for in due season we shall surely reap ‘if we fail not.’  Don’t ever give up!