MATURITY: BOTH A GOAL AND A PROCESS
A spokesman for an insurance company asks on this television ad, “Is this the great recession or the recession that makes us great?” We are hopeful this recession makes us a greater nation of providing the opportunities to possess the rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. The inconveniences and struggles during times of trouble stimulate the process of maturing into a stronger and more loving human family. Will it make us great? Time will reveal the answer when the recession is overshadowed with a new phrase of prosperity. We hope for greatness to break loose on our world and especially on the church.
In the church we call the development of Christian character through the struggles of life ‘maturity.’ Some Scriptures written by the Apostle Paul indicate maturity is a goal for Christians to be complete and adult in their faith and obedience to Christ. In Colossians 1:28 maturity is a goal for every believer in Jesus Christ that is achieved through warning and teaching God’s Word with all wisdom. A Christian reaching maturity will endure difficulties such as persecution and other troublesome experiences in life without falling away from their faith in God. A mature person has successfully overcome the temptation to be discouraged when the trend is negativism and despair. A mature believer has endured the ups and downs of living through the varied stages of life from early adulthood through being a silver haired senior. The goal for Paul was being mature or perfect or better translated as complete. Maturity is the goal for every sincere follower of Jesus Christ.
Maturity is also a process that is at work when we become a believer in Jesus Christ and reform our lives through repentance and by identifying with Christ and His people through our immersion into Christ. Maturity is not an automatic achievement for all believers though we would prefer to be on cruise control as we travel through life. In Philippians 3:12-14 Paul admits he has not become mature but he continues to press forward for the goal of the prize of the upward call of God. Paul experienced sufficient persecution and challenges to become mature but he was mature enough to know he must continue to press toward the goal of maturity.
We are facing challenges in churches throughout our nation and possibly through the entire world that demand we become mature in our service to Christ and in our personal holiness. The little matters that so easily consume our attention and energy must be set aside in order to focus on what God has instructed His church to be and do. Are we experiencing a great test or are we facing the test that will make us great? I think you know the better answer. Focus on your goal of maturity and move toward that goal.
In His Service,
Terry Jones, Christ’s Church at Tiffin