A student, anxious to conclude his studies and receive his degree, asked his counselor if there weren't a more abbreviated course than the one prescribed. "Oh, yes," he was told, "but it depends upon what you want to be. When God wants to make one of those magnificent oak trees, He takes a hundred years, but when He wants to make a squash, He only takes six months."
We can relate this to the Christian life. The taste of the grace of God is one thing, but for it to be seen in our character, our attitudes, and our habits is quite another. Fruit ripens slowly. Days of sunshine, wind and rain each have their part before the fruit ripens to maturity.
It is well to note too that growth in a tree-or in the Christian-is not uniform. In two or three months there may be more growth than in the entire rest of the year. The period of rapid growth when the woody fiber is actually deposited between the bark and the trunk takes place during the months of May, June and July. During the rest of the year there is solidification, without which the green timber would be useless.
What all this means is that there are no shortcuts to maturity. Through experiences and spiritual exercises God enlarges our spiritual perception little by little, that we might possess and enjoy our inheritance. "I will not drive them out from before thee in one year; lest the land become desolate, and the beast of the field multiply against thee. By little and little I will drive them out from before thee, until thou be increased, and inherit the land." Exod. 23:29, 3029I will not drive them out from before thee in one year; lest the land become desolate, and the beast of the field multiply against thee. 30By little and little I will drive them out from before thee, until thou be increased, and inherit the land. (Exodus 23:29‑30).
It ought to be of tremendous encouragement to us to know "that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ." Phil. 1:1616The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds: (Philippians 1:16). And, beloved, it will take that long! Since God is working for eternity, do we need to be concerned about the time involved? Understanding this ought to give us at least two things: stability of soul and patience with one another-and the latter is of much importance!'
All who have put their trust in the Savior have the same life, salvation, faith, love, standing and relationship to God. There are no insignificant members in the Body of Christ; each is the "apple of His eye." (Faithfulness and rewards is another subject that we cannot go into now.)
It is true that one may be weak in faith while another is strong, but whoever confesses Jesus Christ as Savior belongs to His divine family, which makes up His Body on earth. We may not all have the same light, or have the same exercises, but that does not mean we cannot go on together in love. God has given us the responsibility of loving His own and of obeying His Word (1 John 5:22By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. (1 John 5:2)). When this is done, we experience fellowship and the divine life; the Body grows, and we magnify Christ together. As the people of God go on together in this way. will they not know something of "... the days of heaven upon the earth"? Deut. 11:2121That your days may be multiplied, and the days of your children, in the land which the Lord sware unto your fathers to give them, as the days of heaven upon the earth. (Deuteronomy 11:21).
It is necessary for us to walk in self-judgment before our Lord, but we must earnestly watch against slipping into the spirit of judging our brethren, for it will bring bitterness into the soul and make us unfit to go on rightly with one another.
We are members one of another, and are set in the Body to edify and encourage each other. We do not love Christ any more than we love His members.
In John 13 we see our Savior girding Himself and stooping down to wash the feet of His disciples. This is our example, beloved: ministering Christ to one another. This spirit of love and gentleness may take the form of a rebuke or warning, but it will always be intended for blessing, sensing our own weakness (Gal. 6:11Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. (Galatians 6:1)). And, most importantly, we have the blessed privilege of intercessory prayer for those dear to the heart of God.
We live in difficult times, and we are assured from Scripture that they will become more so. It is not the time to be critical, faultfinding, or exposing the failures of His dear saints. We need one another-to encourage one another, and so much the more as the time of His return approaches. May that love which will occupy us for eternity even now be witnessed in our attitude toward one another. "Love covereth...." Pro. 10:1212Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins. (Proverbs 10:12).