The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my mind and heart in Philippians 1:25-26,
"Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, so that through my being with you again your boasting in Christ Jesus will abound on account of me."
"Your progress and joy in the faith" is a phrase that catches my eye this morning. Paul says that he would love to leave this world and join the Lord in heaven, but that it was more "necessary" for him to continue his life here for the purpose of building up believers in their progress and joy in the faith.
Here is an interesting question: Since our embrace of Jesus Christ in faith brings us immediately into his family and immediately changes our destination following this life, and since the Holy Spirit immediately comes to dwell within us when we are "born again" why does God not immediately make us spiritually complete at that time? Why the need for a maturing process? Could not God have made it that way?
When we are first born into God's family we find we are spiritual babies. The writer of Hebrews talks about a maturing process, of being spiritual infants and of becoming mature in Hebrews 5:11-14. As babies we are set on a path to maturity. This process is one of discovery and one of making choices. God, as our Creator, has chosen to provide us with a sense of purpose, with a sense of fulfillment and with a sense of accomplishment. I am quite certain that mental health professionals would tell us that those who lose a sense of purpose, who are unable to attain a sense of fulfillment or a sense of accomplishment find themselves in trouble. We are designed for growth, for a maturing process. I believe this is why we hear folks in their golden years talk of things they are just seeing, just learning. We also hear them say they wish they knew then what they know now.
Paul spoke of his own growth, "Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." Philippians 3:12-14. He likewise told his readers, "Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose." Philippians 2:12-14. All believers, regardless of what spiritual stage they may be, are engaged in a process of maturing spiritually.
Where some feel that God's children are going to arrive in heaven as fully matured individuals, I'm not so sure I do. I suspect the maturing process continues after our arrival in the resurrection. It appears to me that what God creates, he does so with the sense of purpose, fulfillment and accomplishment. It is one thing to be finally freed of our sinful nature in the resurrection, but it is something quite different to be an entirely matured being with no room for growth, for development, for further wisdom and insight.
I suspect I am persuaded this way due to what we see in God's creation today. I also note in the spiritual realm that discovery still takes place - not for God but for his creation. Consider his question to Satan in the book of Job, "Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil." Job 1:8. Satan has his own idea on it but God allows Satan to test Job to prove his point to Satan. Satan is still learning: don't question or challenge God. He should have just slinked away with his tail between his legs. Also, in 1 Kings 22:19-20, "I saw the Lord sitting on his throne with all the multitudes of heaven standing around him on his right and on his left. And the Lord said, 'Who will entice Ahab into attacking Ramoth Gilead and going to his death there?' One suggested this, and another that." If nothing else, I see only one perfect person in God's court - God himself. All the others had room for discovery, for maturity, for growth. Whether they had or have the capacity for it is another matter, but it seems to me that the life God creates provides for purpose, fulfillment, accomplishment, growth and maturity.
This may seem like a simple matter, a mundane matter to some, but I find it an important factor in my thinking about life in the family of God. If for no other reason, it will ever keep me from a sense that I have "arrived", something I am quite certain those around me will require little need of confirmation for.
Perhaps the most wonderful thought I have of all this is the provision the Lord has made for us for this process of maturing. "His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness." 2 Peter 1:3.
We have everything we need!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
Trevor Fisk
No comments:
Post a Comment