09/02/2024
Over the years I have had a reoccurring conversation with various people, pastors and lay people alike, regarding the maturity of today's Christians. The first question discussed is this; "Are our churches filled with babies, toddlers, and young children in Christ?" and then the follow up question asked is… "What would it take to move the church body towards maturity?"
“Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God,”
Hebrews 6:1 ESV
I took piano lessons as a boy; for seven years I sat next to various teachers and learned how to read music and play songs but today I can't play at all. What happened was the same thing that happens in our modern day churches. I characterize my years of piano instruction this way... "I took one year of piano lessons, seven years in a row." Then I eventually lost my desire to play, and quit taking lessons all together.
What happened to me was complicated and involved moving to new cities and countries, several times, which kept me from having a continuum in my lessons or teachers, and then came the distractions of sports, girls, and cars... In other words, life got in the way. Learning or perfecting anything requires focus, determination, and giving up something else. I perfected none of these regarding as I tried to play the piano.
Today I look at the Church and Christianity as a whole and I see a trend that is disturbing... I see faith that is much like my experience with the piano. Christians are finding Jesus and then never progressing; they are taking one year of faith and living it over and over again, and the result is devastating as many are giving up all together, and Churches are dumbing down the Word of God to accommodate the intransigent infants, and those who are weak of faith… those who won’t sell what Jesus asks them to let go of, and hold tight to their worldly possessions.
“Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.”
Matthew 19”21-22 ESV
Our faith is characterized as a walk, but that walk should have direction, and a destination. For many today, we get up in the morning step up on a treadmill and walk the equivalent of a day's journey without actually leaving our bedroom. We have lost sight of what is important. God doesn't want us to jog in place, He wants us to walk out of the comfort of our homes and down the road; perhaps towards Emmaus. He desires for us to meet Jesus along the way and walk with Him while He teaches us. He doesn't want us to run a race that returns us to a finish which moments ago was our starting point... He wants us to trek to a distant destination... a new city, a New Jerusalem, and to shake the dust of the fallen world from our feet.
“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.”
Revelation 21:1-3
Are you stuck in a loop? Do you end each day of faith right back where you began? Are you satisfied with the way you are living out your faith? If so then stop walking for a moment, get on your knees, and ask God where He would have you go today. It might mean that you will be leaving your childhood home forever, or going through some very scary places, but God is with you, and it will also mean that you will be traveling towards a Godly destination; a mansion.
“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”
Psalm 23:4 ESV
“In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.”
John 14:2 KJV
I have heard preachers refer to our walk of faith as a walk with Jesus, or a pilgrimage, but when someone goes on a pilgrimage they always anticipate returning to the home they left behind. At the end of the adventure, all of the things they left behind, their worldly possessions, will be there waiting for them on their return. So, our faith isn't like a pilgrimage... We are on a journey to a new home, and as we go we can't carry all of our excess baggage with us; so we leave it behind knowing that we will not be seeing it again. Only those things we will need to survive the trip, or upon reaching our destination, will go with us. Do we know what things we will need as we walk with Jesus to our Father's home? None of our physical possessions.
“Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.”
Luke 18:22 KJV
As we contemplate our journey, what are the things we will have to sell... is one of them that brand new sports car we are so proud of? Is it a relationship that has stifled your spiritual growth? Is it the worldly ambition that has driven us for so long? Only we know what Jesus is asking each of us to sell. Can we do it?
These are the things that keep Christians in worldly bondage. When someone remains a child in faith it is because they can't let go of home, they can’t persevere and seek new things of faith, nor can they walk beyond their ability to see. Their trust in God doesn't override their fear of the unknown, and the trust they have in the world. As an addict says... They can't "let go and let God".
Today I pray that we walk another day in our journey of faith. I pray that for some, the children, they will begin the walk to a place they can't see yet, and that they might not return from. For others I pray that they meet Jesus on the road to Emmaus, and yet for others, I pray that God gives them the first glimpse of their mansion in the distance. I pray this morningthat those of us who are holding onto the things Jesus is asking us to sell will at last give them up, pick up their cross, and follow Him.
Let’s shake the dust off our feet, and travel with Jesus today.
Prayer:
Father, thank you for your Son Jesus Christ who we are called to believe in, and to follow as we travel the way to where you await. Thank you for making us a new home, a New Jerusalem, and filling it with mansions where we are meant to live and dine with you forevermore. Thank you for the promise of eternity, and the joy and peace we will find there in your presence. Help us Lord in our unbelief so that when that time comes for us to grow in faith we will be willing to give up our worldly trappings, and to seek you in maturity as we should. Holy, Holy, Holy are you our God who raises us, your children, to be righteous men and women of faith, and pleasing to you always. Merciful are you whose grace flows over us, and is sufficient for us as we humbly seek out our own salvation as Jesus has instructed us. Come quickly Lord Jesus, and stand with us before our Father as we face His judgement. Cover us with your redeeming blood so that we are justified by your perfection and not our own. Help us to forget the way back to the world from which we came, and to be happy and full of peace in this, the New Jerusalem, your glorious bride, that has been prepared for us. In this city we will praise you, worship our Father together, and find rest and peace in His goodness forevermore… Amen.
“Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.”
Philippians 2:12-13 ESV
“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”
Psalm 23:6 ESV
Rich Forbes