Axioms for Life – Part Three
“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.” (Phillipians 4: 8)
An axiom is a distillation of a greater truth. Next in this series is:
AXIOM FIVE
To live one must grow. Personal development usually falls in one of two categories: a wasp of a crocodile.
A wasp is as large as it will ever be the day it is born.
A crocodile grows every day of its life right up until the day of death. Wasps never grow. Some persons reach the point of their maturity socially, economically, and as a Christian. The sea of knowledge is so vast and the capacity of our boat so small to fail to grow is to fail to be fulfilled.
As applied to Christians so many have been born again, but have never grown beyond the most basics spiritually. “Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation” (I Peter 2:2).
Crocodiles continue to ingest spiritual, educational, ethical, and moral nourishment and they grow. They confront the challenges of new horizons. Life continues to be an exciting adventure. For them growth is a way of life.
Grow in grace and in knowledge, and don’t confuse the two. Be prepared when God calls. He deals with each of us in a special way.
He had Abraham take a walk, Elijah take a nap, Joshua take a lap, and Adam take the rap.
He gave Moses a forty-year time out, he gave David a harp and a dance, and he gave Paul a pen and a scroll.
He wrestled with Jacob, argued with Job, whispered to Elijah, warned Cain, and comforted Hagar.
He gave Aaron an altar, Miriam a song, Gideon a fleece, Peter a name, and Elisha a mantle.
Jesus was stern with the rich young ruler, tender with the woman caught in adultery, patient with the disciples, blistering with the scribes, gentle with the children, and gracious with the thief on the cross.
God never grows two people the same way. God is a hand-crafter, not a mass-producer.
The Gathers had a song that speaks of God working on us:
“He’s still working on me
To make me what I need to be
It took him just a week to make the moon and stars
The sun and the earth and Jupiter and Mars
How loving and patient He must be
‘Cause He’s still workin’ on me.”
Indeed, He must be our Master, but as His students we must do our homework. Spiritual growth is a process so, “And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge.” (II Peter 1: 5)