Grow Up

In reading Ephesians 4, I came across a series of passages that spoke to me about the times we are in and GOD’S directive to grow up. I am not implying my adulthood is superior to others. In fact, I have been just as childish in my relationship with Christ. I have taken Him for granted and not looked to Him for the answers we are all seeking.

Ephesians 4:13-16 reads “Till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love”.

Although Paul is speaking encouragements to the Church of Ephesus, I feel GOD’S message for us all during this global event. Think about what we are facing beyond the actual sickness plaguing our world. It seems like I can walk into any public place and observe plenty of the patrons not wearing masks. Weekly, I have someone tell me how COVID-19 is just a hoax cooked up by the Government and is just the normal flu. And then there is the whole debate about taking the vaccine designed to protect us from this virus. As someone who has had COVID, I am telling you this virus is like nothing I have ever experienced. It has been over a month since I had the virus and my lungs are still not back to normal. I know of a number of people who have died from COVID. The American flag hangs at half-staff this week recognizing over 500,000 Americans who have died from COVID-19. This virus is real and it is deadly.

If we look at our actions during this pandemic, are we not displaying child-like actions? Being selfish, focusing on ourselves and not considering others, complaining about the limitations on our daily lives, and failing to seek GOD’S WILL. If we are going to grow up, then we have to admit we are acting like children before GOD and we must “grow up in all things into Him”.

Reading further into verse 14, we see “tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of Men”. Is that not what is happening this very day? Everyone has a theory, everything is a conspiracy, and anxiety is at an all-time high. Why are we spending so much time listening to man’s answers to today’s challenges, when GOD has sent His Only Son to answer all of our questions? If only we would seek His face. (Psalm 27:8)

So you ask, how do we “grow up”? Paul writes in verse 15 “speaking the truth in love”. That is what is missing in our society today, the truth. Between the broadcast news and social media, what is the truth? I believe the reason we have so many friends and co-workers running around “gossiping” about what is real and what is not, is because we are not seeking the truth in the right places. (Zechariah 8:16, Ephesians 4:25, Proverbs 12:17, Proverbs 8:7) In speaking the truth, we grow closer to Christ. In reading GOD’S WORD, we learn the truth. In praying to GOD through Christ, we receive the truth.

In our quest for the truth, we must be joined as the Body of Christ and knit together performing the Will of GOD. Paul writes in Ephesians, that we must all do our fair share to grow the body and edify each other in Love. What a day that will be, when we are all together worshiping HIM in HIS House.