Growing Up or Growing Cold

A thermometer is an interesting object. If the temperature is 70 degrees and it rises to 80 degrees a thermometer must pass through degrees 71 through 79 before it reaches its destination. It does not automatically jump from 70 to 80, even though it may seem like it sometimes. The same goes with a clock. If the clock reads 7 o'clock it must pass through every minute on the clock to get to 8 o'clock. Time may fly when you're having fun, but every minute must be counted for. The same goes with a compass and each of its degrees or an elevator and each floor of a building. There are no shortcuts to be had.

The life of a Christian is the same as a thermometer, clock, compass, or an elevator. If we are to grow and mature in our walk with our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, we must grow one step at a time. We do not automatically become a grown-up Christian. Isaiah 28:9-10 says, "Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little." In this instance the people of Judah were mocking Isaiah, because he was teaching the same truths and lessons over and over like you do with a child until, hopefully, they will learn and grow. The image presented here is that of a brick layer who must build his building one row of bricks at a time. Even though Isaiah was being mocked there is an important truth here. You only grow step by step. Sometimes those steps may be longer than others, but you still must put one foot in front of the other. The Apostle Paul put it this way, "Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." God instructs us in His Word that we, too, are to move towards perfection. While that is not a reality in this sin-filled world, we are to strive for that. It is only done little by little, step by step.

I have to admit that I get frustrated in my own life. I want to grow up and be as mature of a Christian as possible, but there are times when I don't want to put forth the effort that is required to reach that goal. There are times when I don't want to read my Bible. There are times when I don't want to pray. There are times when I don't want to go to church. I know, though, that in order to grow in the Lord I must do those things. Sometimes it is a struggle and other times it is an all-out war raging between my flesh and my spirit. Each time that I win one of those battles I grow a little more Christ-like. Each time I overcome my flesh I am moving closer to perfection. It is hard at times, but it is worth it. I know that I must go through each stage of maturation, just like a thermometer must go through each degree and the clock must pass through each minute. Growing up comes in stages, not in leaps and bounds.

Likewise, growing cold towards the Lord is a process. It does not happen automatically for a saved person. Each time a Christian hardens his heart or quenches the leading of the Holy Spirit, he grows a little more colder towards God. Most Christians don't abruptly start missing church and quit reading their Bibles and praying. It usually happens over a course of time. When we lose those battles to the flesh it becomes easier to to give in the next time, and so on until we don't put forth any effort at all. Our hearts do not turn to granite overnight. Again, growing cold comes in stages, just like the thermometer, clock, or compass.

Each and every Christian is either growing up or growing cold. Are you pressing for the prize to be found in Christ Jesus, or are cooling off more and more each day. No one can say that they are at the point of full maturity in Christ, at least not in this life. We all must examine our hearts and determine what is taking place there. The hymnist wrote, "I'm pressing on the upward way, new heights I'm gaining every day." We must strive daily to gain those new heights. Are you gaining ground or are you losing it? Are you striving or skidding? Are you growing up or growing cold?

Scars

While trying to cut the top off of a pop bottle, my 9 year-old nephew recently cut one of his fingers nearly to the bone with a utility knife. He had been repeatedly told to put the knife away and to leave it alone. Ignoring the instructions of his father, he reaped the consequence of disobedience. He will most likely carry a scar on his finger as a result of his willful and deliberate act of rebellion.

A couple of weeks ago my 4 year-old son suffered second-degree burns to the back of his legs and to three fingers on one of his hands after falling into a campfire. Fortunately, and by the grace of God, the actual fire had burned down and only hot coals remained. Otherwise, he would have suffered more serious and more numerous burns.

My son's mishap was not the result of rebellion or disobedience, but was simply an accident. He had his shoes on the wrong feet and got tripped up and backed into the fire ring and landed in the hot coals. He, too, will most likely carry the scars of this event for the remainder of his earthly life.

Reflecting on these two incidents, I was reminded how sin will leave scars in a person's life. It does not matter if the sin was a willful, intentional, and deliberate rebellion against God just like the behavior of my nephew. It also does not matter if the devil causes us to stumble and we commit an act of sin out of ignorance or in a moment of weakness. Sin leaves scars no matter the reason we sinned in the first place. We must keep in mind that our adversary the devil "walketh about, seeking whom he may devour." Satan is not out to play cat-and-mouse games with us. He is compared to a "roaring lion" who is out to devour and destroy us. Anyone who thinks they can play around with sin and not pay the price is only fooling themselves. Yes, the pleasures of sin are for a season, but the consequences will last a lifetime. It only takes one "mistake" of sin to destroy a person's future. Even though we have been promised that "if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins," does not mean that we are free from the physical consequences of sin. Webster defines a 'consequence' as "a condition or occurrence traceable to a cause."

Hopefully, my nephew will learn not to play with knives and to obey the instruction of his parents. Likewise, I hope my son will realize the dangers of fire and will be more cautious when he is near one. If not, then the scars these two young boys bear will be all for nought. They will have endured tremendous pain simply for the sake of suffering. Likewise, if we suffer from the effects of our sin and we do not take heed and learn from our mistakes we are the Bible's description of a fool. "As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly."