A Non-Stop Train
If you have not noticed already, this has been a “who, what, when, where, and why” series on spiritual growth. If you have not read the previous writings, the “who” of spiritual growth is the Christian, the born-again believer of Jesus Christ that nourishes himself or herself on the word of God. The “what” of spiritual growth was summed up with putting on Christ. We are to cast from ourselves our old nature like a competitor of shot put and walk in the Spirit of Jesus Christ that we were born into. “Why” we should grow spiritually was summed up with selling all to purchase the infinitely valuable treasure that is the kingdom of God. Synonymous with the “what” of spiritual growth, that entails dying to self, the selling, and putting on the new, the purchased.
There are two parts remaining, then, the “when” and “where”. I am going to combine the two in this one writing because answering when we should grow in our faith and where we should do it, the response should naturally include an answer to both. When should I start growing? Right now. Not next year, next week, tomorrow, or in ten minutes. Growth begins or continues, literally, this very second. If you are a Christian, you are on a non-stop train towards heaven. You have already decided to hop on. Now, are you going to prepare for what is coming, or are you going to think and act on what is being left behind?
“Wait,” you might be thinking, “Right now I am waiting in line at the grocery store. Right now, I am on my lunch break and have to go back to work in five minutes.” To that I say, “Perfect.” You can show the love of Christ to those around you in the check-out lane. Perfect, because at work you can exemplify honesty, kindness, diligence, and excellence to show how wonderful Jesus Christ is. No matter where you are, you can apply that situation to the kingdom of God. With whatever information you are taking in, how does it apply towards the kingdom? If you are not reading the word of God, your Bible, directly, how can you learn to apply what you do know to where you stand? What can you learn from whatever situation you stand in? If growing is a non-stop train and you are on it, that means wherever you stand, that is “where” you grow. At all times and in all places, that is when and where.
Now
Paul’s urgent plea to the Corinthian church is the same. “And working together with Him, we also urge you not to receive the grace of God in vain – for He says, ‘At the acceptable time I listened to you and on the day of salvation I helped you.’ Behold, now is ‘the acceptable time,’ behold, now is ‘the day of salvation” (2 Cor. 6:1-2). In the chapter, prior, Paul builds up to this point in 6:1-2 with what could be summed up with: Corinthians, we are not yet in heaven, but we live looking to that place, the unseen (4:18-5:8). “Therefore we also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him. For we must all appear before the judgement seat of Christ” (5:9-10). “Therefore, knowing the fear of the lord, we persuade men” (5:11). “Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God” (5:20).
Paul is begging them on behalf of Christ. From somewhere deep within himself, Paul feels the weight of his work and love for the Corinthian church. This is why he begs. We get the word “beg” in 5:20 from the Greek word deomai. This word points to something deeply personal and lacking. Paul has poured himself into these people to create a depth of work and love that is a sea of afflictions (4:8, 6:4-5) but much rejoicing (6:10). He has emptied himself of everything for their sake and salvation. It is no wonder, then, he perceives and fears his offering is floating away in vain, as he said, “We also urge you not to receive the grace of God in vain” (6:1).
It is from this point of reference and context that we receive the exhortation, “Now is ‘the acceptable time,’ behold, now is ‘the day of salvation” (6:2). It is to remind them and us that salvation in Christ is not in waiting, it is here and now. Isaiah 49:8 is where he takes the quote from, which was looking to the future Christ when written. Paul is saying that day is upon you. That day is upon us. Notice the emphasis in twice using the word, “Now.” Not tomorrow, but right now be reconciled to God through Jesus Christ. And in case anyone starts to think the emphasis is on coming to Christ for the first time, that is not the case. Therefore, we should not sit back and think, “Well, I’ve come to Christ already. I’m good.” No, this writing is about growth and it is along those same lines that Paul is pleading with the Corinthians.
It is from the mindset of Hebrews 3:13-14 that Paul pleads. It is said there, “But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called ‘Today,’ so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. For we have become partakers of Christ, if we hold fast the beginning of our assurance firm until the end.” Paul does not want the Corinthian church to be led away from the gospel, developing a hardened heart. Therefore, “Let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God” (2 Cor. 7:1). This is spiritual growth, and this is why he uses Isaiah 49:8. Certainly, the same argument can be used for the unbelieving. The unbeliever should read these words and think today is the day, I am not waiting for tomorrow to come to be saved. I do not know if I will live to see tomorrow.
Phantoms
Paul wrote it for the believing, but the previous sentence should awaken us to the reality of the urgency of the right now. Let us not procrastinate in perfecting holiness. You do not know when your train is coming upon arrival. May we have the mindset of David where he writes, “Lord, make me to know my end and what is the extent of my days; Let me know how transient I am. Behold, You have made my days as handbreadths, and my lifetime as nothing in Your sight; surely every man at his best is a mere breath. Surely every man walks about as a phantom” (Psalm 39:4-6). Do we not all wonder when our end is? I am confident in that we do, but I wonder how many of us realize on a day-by-day basis how little control we have over our end (let me be the first to raise my hand). In fact, we have no control. We are here today and could be gone tomorrow. God has made our days and he, alone, knows our end.
This same perspective is echoed in James 4:13-16 where it says, “Come now, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit.’ Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. Instead, you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that.’ But as it is, you boast in your arrogance; all such boasting is evil.” What will God do today? What does he have planned for each of us? That is more exciting (and simply accurate) than any plan I can drum up for the day or year. Yet often-times our plans are His plans, or else, we might be sitting ducks waiting for clues as to what we should do. Let us sum up those four verses with: 1. You do not know what your life will be like tomorrow (or even today). 2. Your life is in the will of God. 3. To live any other way is an evil found in arrogance. So, keep walking and doing, and growing, but with the realization that God’s will is the final tell-all.
Be Persuaded
“Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade men” (2 Cor. 6:11). That is exactly my heart in writing you this. Knowing the fear of the Lord, that being his providence and power among much more, of which I and we are empty, may we be persuaded to constantly live for him. May we live for him because his love and kindness, being as great as his providence, power, and wrath, has been freely given to us. This should drive persuasion through the roof. This great and mighty God who has all power and control has given you radically undeserved salvation through the death of his son, Jesus Christ. “He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Cor. 5:21).
So, then, do not wait for tomorrow to come to grow in obedience to the truth. The train is moving whether you are on or off. Be in constant prayer. Nourish yourself on every word that comes from the mouth of God (Mat. 4:4). No matter where you are and no matter when, grow. Every thought you have and every action you take has purpose. Every failure has a lesson. Every breath is reminiscent of the breath you are.