spiritual dwarfs

 

    In Hebrews 5, the inspired writer mentions that Jesus was made a High Priest after the order of Melchesidec. He then says he would like to teach more about this but can't because those to whom he was writing had become "dull of hearing" (Heb. 5:11 - 6:6).

    God had given the first century church inspired apostles, prophets, evangelists, elders and teachers for the equipping of the saints and for the building up of the body of Christ (Ephesians 4:11-12). In spite of this, these Christians had remained spiritual dwarfs. This is not a compliment. And since God had given them every provision whereby they could grow, they had no excuse for failing to grow and would therefore be held accountable (Heb. 6:9).

    Christians are expected to make spiritual progress. In our physical life, we are born and begin immediately to grow for about the first 18 years. After that, our minds continue to grow in knowledge till we become useful in society.

    Spiritually, we are "born again," but too many come up out of the river of baptism and just set on the bank. They continue to set there and not only dry off, they dry up. Years later, they are still setting there.  All they want to hear is sermons on the first principles of the gospel because, well, "we've already done those things."

    God's word speaks of growth: "Grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ (2Pet. 3:18). Congregations must not become satisfied with their spiritual achievements, and the only way for that to happen is for the individual members not to become satisfied with there own personal spiritual growth.

    The only reason spiritual progress is not made in the individual and therefore the congregation, is because it is not desired. When we lose our desire for spiritual things, our soul is in danger.

    Let's say you went to school, and in kindergarten you were taught the alphabet; then for the next three years you were still only taught the alphabet.  When you entered the fourth grade the teacher tried to teach you how to read, but you found that too much trouble. You tell the teacher, "Just keep teaching me the alphabet, that's all I need to know!" 

    Obviously, the alphabet IS important, and must never be forgotten; but once it is learned, we must use our knowledge of it to learn to read, then use our reading knowledge to educate ourselves to the point of becoming useful in society.  The alphabet is a first principle and necessary foundation. But after the foundation is laid, we must begin to build on it.

    Where is the beauty in building only a foundation? Furthermore, what good is a foundation if nothing is built on it? If you lay the foundation for building a house, but never build on it, what have you accomplished? If you lay only the foundation of the gospel (belief, repentance, baptism, resurrection, etc.), but build nothing on that foundation, what have your accomplished?

    There are some things we must be content with, but we should never be content with our spiritual growth; we should always strive for "Higher Ground."  Grow your spirituality by studying and obeying the nutritious Word of God.

                                Toby Miller

                                                   

 

Every man has the right to go to Hell anyway he chooses. But he can only go to Heaven in the way that God chooses.

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