“Lord, please make me FAT!”
I want to be FAT! In fact, I want to be so FAT that people stare at me and say they want to be just as FAT, if not FATTER than I am. I’d really be living life to the full if I was FAT…You could say I’d be FAT and happy!
Jesus Christ is the ultimate example of One who was FAT. No, He didn’t struggle with his weight or His self image. He was just FAT. Pure and simple, at least from an acronymic standpoint!
Throughout Scripture, Jesus is given many names and titles: Christ, Emmanuel, Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace, The Branch, The Last Adam, The Lamb of God, The Resurrection and The Life, Lord of Lords, Bread of Life, Living Water, True Vine, Savior, Servant, Redeemer, King of Kings, Messiah. On and on they go; each name emphasizing a specific divine aspect of His Person, Power and Position.
The book of Revelation ascribes to Jesus the names “Word of God” (19:13), “KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS” (19:16), “Alpha and the Omega” (22:13), “First and the Last” (22:13), “Beginning and the End” (22:13), “the Root and the Offspring of David, and the Bright Morning Star” (22:16). And in chapter 19, verse 11, the writer, John, sees Jesus riding on a white horse as heaven opens before his very eyes. There He is. The One and Only God. Creator and Sustainer of life itself. Maker of heaven and earth appearing in all His glory. Magnificent. All powerful, all conquering. Triumphant, riding His horse of warfare. And…FAT! You read it right. FAT. Just before ushering in His thousand year reign on earth, Jesus appears…Faithful And True! What a marvelous description of our Savior’s eternal nature.
Jesus is contrasted to the unfaithful deceivers of humankind; false teachers; false prophets; self proclaimed (delusional) messiahs and of course, the devil himself, the father of lies (John 8:44). Jesus proves Himself Faithful in executing the long time program of God. No more signs. No more prophesies about His coming. He is here! He has come through on His promise. Acts 1:11 tells us that, “This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.” Scripture said it. Jesus does it!
He is called “True” for in Him there is no lie (Hebrews 6:18). Not only is Jesus “The Way and the Truth and the Life” (John 14:6), He is also the perfect standard of Truth itself: That which is true for all times, for all people and for all places. Bottom line: Jesus can be trusted. His words are not tainted with propaganda. He tells it as it is. In John 18:38, Pontius Pilate asked Jesus the question on everyone’s heart and lips, both then and now, “What is truth?” Ironically, Jesus had already provided THE answer by stressing that, “Everyone on the side of truth listens to me” (John 18:37). Today, the world desperately needs truth, not sentiment; honesty not self serving lies. A vibrant relationship with God, not a sterile religion. The world needs Jesus. The only One who is perfectly Faithful And True!
So, if Jesus is FAT, shouldn’t we also strive to be FAT like our Lord? After all, as Christians, we are to become more and more like Christ through the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. We are to be sanctified – made holy through our relationship with Him…
Faithful And True: Faithful in keeping our promises. True to our word. No contradictions or exaggerated claims.
Faithful And True: Faithful to the ones we love. We show up. We commit. We follow through. We love unconditionally. We forgive and we extend grace, not judgment. We are true to ourselves and to others, even when the truth hurts. We are held accountable and we urge others to hold us equally accountable.
Faithful And True: We prove ourselves, time and time again to be worthy of another’s confidence. We are consistent, unwavering, steadfast in our faith. We have a clear conscience before God and man, “so that those who speak maliciously against your (our) good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander” (1 Peter 3:16).
I am eager to become FAT, aren’t you? I’ll be pleased if (from an acronymic perspective) if I am yelled at, ridiculed for, or persecuted because I am FAT. Because by being FAT, I’ll acquire a good name, and “A good name is more desirable than great riches” says Scripture, “to be esteemed is better than silver or gold” (Proverbs 22:1).
This week, let’s make a concerted effort to be FAT. Let’s commit to being Faithful And True in all aspects of our life – in public, in private, yet always before the eyes of the Lord. After all, “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account” (Hebrews 4:13).
So, let’s thank the Lord that FAT people are God’s people…That He wants (and expects) us to be sold out for Him, and to be FAT…all at the same time!
