2Co 11:3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve in his craftiness, your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity and the purity that is toward Christ. [asv]

Mat 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Ephesians 5:25-29 (nkjv)

25 . . . just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, 26 that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, 27 that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. . . . 29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church. 30 For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones.

There is not a reasonably intelligent one among us who does not know that he needs a periodic physical health “check-up.” The medical people advertise it constantly, especially concerning the more serious afflictions. Most of us do it, and by doing so are able to avoid many debilitating diseases later on. As a matter of scientific fact, many diseases, if not detected early on, become not only more severe but often incurable. Several Insurance Companies will now pay for these periodic examinations so to prevent more expensive claims later.

If you are employed by a major commercial or industrial company, you probably will be required to go through an annual job performance evaluation. Commendations will usually be made for work well done and recommendations for improvements offered if needed.

Now we certainly understand the importance of maintaining good health, both physical and mental, to be able to enjoy a comfortable lifestyle. It is naive to suggest that employers do not have a right to expect an improved job performance in return for the need for and expectation of, increased wages and other benefits.

But, more importantly, is there a reasonably intelligent person who considers himself a saved child of God, who does not know that he (or she) needs a periodic spiritual check-up? I would think not.

The matter of eternal salvation should be the most important matter in each of our lives, and it will prove to have been – come judgment day. Today is the day of salvation, but often it seems that we become casual about our relationship with our Lord “today.” Surely we know that the “there and then” experience (Hebrews 9:27; etc.) will be influenced greatly by the “here and now”relationship with God. The writer of Hebrews exhorts those being tempted with various trials in the 1^st century,

“Brethren, take heed, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, by departing from the living God. But, lest any of you be hardened, through the deceitfulness of sin, exhort one another every day, while it is called To-day: (for we are all partakers of Christ, if, indeed, we hold fast this first confidence firm to the end;)” (4:12-14).

I have often been “sobered” by contemplating the statement found in Chapter 10:

26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, (would that include us today?) there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, (God has no back-up plan) 27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. 28 He that despised Moses’ law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: 29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? (Is this not why we should observe with care the Supper of the Lord?)30 For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. 31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

Loyalty, stedfastness, commitment, dedication – these seem to be becoming just words in the dictionary these days. Not so, if we want to be with the God of all grace now, and everlastingly so after death. And so, we need frequent “check-ups,” both by ourselves and also with the loving assistance of brethren.

Be reminded once again that we were saved from our sins back when we obeyed the Gospel, and surely we hope to be a saved soul when the Lord comes back again. The judgment will not change our status, it will only reveal it. But it seems to me that many are nonchalant about “today,” forgetting that today – now – is the most important time to be sure that all things are ready. He will come as a “thief in the night,” with no warning. There will be no time to “get ready,” so in order to be ready we need to get ready and STAY ready.

The “once saved always saved” doctrine will probably be the downfall of many souls. Fortunately, many who once were taught this no longer believe it. (See the excellent “Life In The Son” by Robert Shank.) Under the Law the prophet Ezekiel teaches that every man will be responsible for his own present righteousness. He quotes the Lord in saying that a previous righteousness becomes inadequate when a soul reverts to unrighteousness.

We are aware that Ezekiel wrote to Jews who lived under the Law of Moses, but is the principle not true in the New Covenant dispensation? The apostle John states it accurately under the New Covenant in 1Joh 1:1ff.

5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. 8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. 2:1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: 2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. 3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. 4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.

I continue to be amazed after some sixty plus years of seeing the advertisements that there are still those who offer instant miracle recovery schemes to willing clients who want to recover lost abilities and physical attractiveness. The cosmetic people abound with new products that promise much. The merchandisers of the 30-day wonder drugs for everything from losing weight to growing hair are skilled promoters. The pushers of self-help “how to” packages for restored perfection are alive and well. I marvel most at the gullibility of those who buy these products and schemes and accept the doctrines of the shortcut methodologies. The “how to lose unwanted weight” products rank as one of the biggest scams of all time. But there are many others, as we hear the multitudinous advertisements in all the mass media.

My greatest contempt is for the religious entrepreneurs who offer cheap grace (i.e., forgiveness without repentance or commitment), boundless joy (carnal enjoyment) and instant personal success to whoever will join their “health and wealth” programs. My main interest – and I would hope for all saints – is to be in the constant process of becoming Christlike. We could say acquiring the very mind of Christ. As Peter states, “For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps” (1Pe 2:21). I want to know all I can know about how He pleased the Father, and if possible do the same things if possible so I can please Him. The writer speaks of the faithfulness of earlier worthies and says, “. . . without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him” (Heb. 11:6). All other successes are relatively unimportant by comparison.

1. As mankind was created in the image of God, and after His likeness, and whereas we have lost that image and likeness (We all sin, says John), we must be in a constant state of restoration. The preaching of the prophets to Israel could be simplified into “Repent, repent, repent!”John’s preaching to the Jews was largely on repentance. Someone said that Jesus could have used John’s outlines, for He began his preaching with the same theme, “Repent or perish” he told them. To us under the New Covenant it might be expressed in Paul’s words, “. . . put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness” (Eph. 4:24).

2. This reconciliation and restoration requires growth, ending in perfection (acceptable maturity). While our spiritual life in fellowship with Christ is preeminent (1Jo 1:7), this growth relates to all aspects of our relationships with both saint and sinner, brother in Christ or the world (all men). Can we not borrow from Paul and state, “Continue to put on the new man, which after God we are urged to grow in righteousness and true holiness?”

God created a perfect world – material and human. We could not be proud of what has happened to each. The earth has been substantially contaminated in major degree; the current controversy about global warming is only one component. What about mankind? My amateurish evaluation is that today “man’s inhumanity to man is making countless millions mourn.” Surely the Almighty could not be pleased as He sees the butchery of man against fellow man, the deforming and demeaning of his creatures. Someone has said our age could be described as, “Roses are red and violets are blue; you clobber me and I’ll clobber you.” Another wag has said that our motto could be stated, “I don’t get mad; I get even!” Both of these are far, far away from the beautiful teachings of Jesus. Are we making any progress correcting this reign of hostility? Many individuals and organizations are hard at work trying to make a difference. No one can say for sure if progress is being made. We might say that if things are as bad WITH these efforts, what would the conditions be without them!

Growth! We're so accustomed to the “things” of the world always getting bigger and better that we take it all casually; “for granted,” we say. The USA is the world’s economic center, and the accumulation of wealth is unbelievable. There is hardly one single element in the “economy” that is not “growing” rapidly. Regrettably this is not the case for moral conduct among people. Most if not all of the states are building more prisons, and some are releasing criminals because there is no place to put them.

John writes that God’s people are to “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever” (1Jo 2:15-17). In my lifetime I do not recall a time when this warning and admonition needs to be taught as forcefully as now.

Note that John contrasts the things that are the result of loving the world, and those that result from love of the Father. The “new birth” (John 3) provides a new start, forgiveness of past sins, and some help in pursuing those things of eternal worth. We learn from Acts 2:38 that this help is the Holy Spirit himself. But, the Sacred Record confirms that past forgiveness and the gift of the Spirit does not guarantee that the recipient will always be guided by the Spirit. One of the earliest failures was Ananias and his wife Sapphira, who chose the love of the world with its lust of the flesh over the love of the Father. God has never forced obedience to his will or his righteousness. Cain and Abel were sons of the same parents, Cain chose the way of the world; Abel the way of righteousness. Eleven of the selected disciples of Jesus chose faithfulness; Judas chose deceit and betrayal. Saul had a conflict that he had to face, and Jesus knew his man. Once having decided, Paul never turned back, not once! You and I must make the same choice, not once but probably many times in our conflict with Satan.

We must become interested in spiritual growth – acquiring the very mind of Christ – if we are to “make our calling and election sure,” and, be a contributing factor in helping save the world. We often hear the noble comment, “I want to leave the world a better place than when I found it.” This is as it should be, it would seem! Peter addresses his readers in these beautiful words:

“Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, (the word According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

The word “knowledge” here does not mean knowing about God and Christ, but knowing Him personally, having an experiential relationship with Him. (See John 17:3.) There is a big, big, difference. And then he urges:

“And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall” (2Pe 1:2-10).

“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints” (Eph 6:10-18).

Many scholars believe and teach that the endtime is drawing near. Others say that as long as more souls are being saved, the Lord will continue things as they are, but will come back if a decline in souls saved begins to occur. No one knows, of course, but the spiritually minded child of God must work for the salvation of souls to continue to be a child of God – whether the end is soon or a million years away! The success of his efforts will depend upon his own growth. The beautiful song says, “Oh to be like Thee, blessed Redeemer. This is my constant longing and prayer.” The more we become “like Him,” the more we acquire His mind, the more we will become an influence in saving lost souls. God’s People are the only hands, feet, mouths, that the Savior has to do His work. The success of this work will depend upon the growth of those who are His People. Paul writes to the Philippians:

“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure” (2:5-13).

Is personal spiritual growth a mystery? Can we understand that there are things we can do to assure the spiritual strength within us? Or, are we the helpless instrument of God’s pleasure, as taught by some. The victim of circumstances? The fact that we do not understand the nature of growth, change for the better in spirit and power, does not mean that we can not do the things that would logically produce change. Let’s consider the following:

Mar 4:26 And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground; 27 And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how. 28 For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear. 29 But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come.

This parable, told only by Mark, is one of many that relates to the Kingdom of Heaven. Surely it relates to the Kingdom universal, but also relates to the individual grace found in the heart and soul of each individual citizen of the Kingdom -- each disciple of Christ.

What if the man had not sowed the seed? He did what logic and practice would require. But no farmer would stop with just the sowing. He knows that there is possibly fertilizing, clearing weeds, possibly fencing against predators, etc. Yes, the growth itself is left to “nature,” or God’s doings. But, the man did do right things in right ways as far as he knew to do.

Acts 17:24 God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; 25 Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; 26 And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; 27 That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us: 28 For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring. (Act 17:24-28).

What does “in him we live, and move, and have our being” really mean. What does being an “offspring” of God mean? A continuous thread throughout this whole series of articles is that God has desired his creature man to be with Him, and to enjoy His presence. That message resounds again and again from the Garden until the great hereafter.

“Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing” (John 15:4, 5).

What did Paul mean when told the Corinthians, “I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase” (1 Cor. 3:6, 7). Listen again to Paul: Paul, did you do what you were asked to do by the Lord who called you? Apollos, did you do what you had learned had to be done to nourish the souls, to strengthen and encourage them? What then did Paul mean when he said that “neither he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth?” Surely he meant that it is God who gave the Savior, gave the Gospel, gave the forgiveness upon obedience to the Gospel, gave the Holy Spirit to those who sincerely came to Christ and obeyed his Commandments!

2. No man -- individually or collectively (i.e., parents, evangelists, congregational leadership, etc.) can force spiritual growth upon another person.

Several years ago, in a congregational leadership training affair, fifty-four of the most knowledgeable and talented leaders among the congregations in Dallas, Tx. spent considerable time one Saturday discussing the role of congregational leaders. After several hours of questioning and answering, the conclusion was that leadership could not force knowledge (John 8:31,32), or the Christlike mind (Phi. 2:5) upon the members whose spiritual welfare they were commissioned to oversee (Heb. 13:17; 1 Pet. 5:1-5; etc.). The very best they could do, it was concluded, was expressed in this mutually agreed upon statement:

This defining of what they believed to be their function as spiritual teachers, leaders, guides and watchers of souls included these emphases:

(1) This definition stresses the controlling of circumstances where it CAN happen. Do the things that would make it possible to happen; eliminate the negative factors that prevent it from being possible. We can not force a person to believe. We can not make a Christian be faithful, but leaders can provide a climate where it is conducive for growth to occur. Let us plant and water the very best we can, and depend upon God to give the increase.

(2) This definition stresses “every saint.” (Col. 2:19; 1 Cor. 12:12-27; Eph. 4:16; etc.) There are no unimportant members of the body of Christ. We must take into consideration the young, the old, the weak, along with those who would be called the ahead-type strong in the faith person.

(3) This definition stresses the “here and now.” Every saint “is” (presence tense) being changed!

(2 Pet. 1:3,4; etc.) We leave the past; we plan for the future, but we capitalize the present. Today is the day of salvation. The spiritual status of the members of the family of God now; that is the all-important matter.

(4) This definition stresses the aim, goal and objective of our experience: to be Christlike in every respect that we are able.

The fine Company Office Depot has an advertising slogan “Taking Care of Business.” My judgment is – somewhat critically – is that when congregational leaders “take care of business” as laid out in the Scriptures, many more saints will grow in grace and knowledge. And, if they do not, they are not “watching” for souls as they were commissioned to do.

Some years back, on CNN’s Talk Back Live program, several acclaimed experts discussed dieting. America is the most overweight country in the world, 65% of its citizens needing to lose weight. There were many similarities, and some dissimilarities in the experts’ offerings. Everyone agreed that such things as control of amounts of food, and the need for exercise, are obvious. But there was also a common denominator among even these differing schools of thought. This was expressed in the term “Proper Lifestyle.” People who want to have a healthy life, maximize both mental and physical strength, and live normally the longest amount of time, need to have a systematic, disciplined, “lifestyle.” What do we mean by lifestyle? We mean a systematic, disciplined, day-by-day eating, sleeping, working, habitual existence -- the doing of right things in right ways for right motives. (Which, incidentally, is the secret of personal confidence building in all phases of personal competency!)

"Consider the lilies, how they grow" -- there's more than poetry in that. ". . . they toil not, neither do they spin" (Mat. 6:28); that is, they do not strain to produce growth or beauty. They're enveloped by mighty influences; they make their roots available to the gift, and without struggling they are woven into a beauty and glory which even the splendor of kings cannot match. This is God’s doings. To grow in spirit, in acquiring the mind of Christ, it is not so much of a “crash” program, or a miracle study course, or a video series. It is aforming of a lifestyle where everything, every day, in every way, we practice the very presence of God, in all that we do, say and think. We are in Christ and Christ is in us!

The point is that growth on all levels comes like this, by giving attention to something else -- by doing right things in right ways. That’s our part; God will give the increase.

Some wag has said, “You can lead a horse to water, But you cannot make him drink. / You can send your boy to college, But you cannot make him think.” Someone answered the first, “Try putting salt in his oats!” They did not reply to the second. Quoting Emerson again, each one of us is looking for someone who can help us be what we can. Who is that someone but the Almighty and Majestic God of Heaven?

"Moral education," said Dr. Alfred Whitehead, "is impossible apart from the habitual vision of greatness." And that’s what worship of the Almighty God is -- the habitual vision of greatness, the time-exposure of the human soul to the highest that we know. We tend inevitably to grow like that to which we give our attention, our admiration, and devotion. "I . . . saw the Lord . . . ," said Isaiah, High and lifted up . . ." (6:1). And lured by that loftiness he was lifted -- like the boy in Kipling’s story of the Great Stone Face, who day by day came to bear the image in himself of the face he had looked admiringly upon for so long. The habitual vision of greatness -- that is worship. As the great Paul told the Roman Christians, “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! . . . For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” A modern translation says, “don't let this world squeeze you into its mold -- but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind . . ." (Rom. 12:2); ". . . the gift of God is eternal life . . ." (Rom. 6:23); “. . . by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves.... Not of works, lest any man should boast” (Eph. 2:8-9). You cannot shove your way to it; you can only receive it and make your mind available to the gift. He didn't say, "Be good and you'll enter the Kingdom of God." He said', "Seek God first, His Kingdom, and you'll be good -- all these things will be added unto you." Is there anything our generation needs more than this lifting power of loftiness, the habitual vision of greatness?

I am very fortunate to have had the opportunity to be on many, many occasions with great people, both men and women. In all truthfulness, I do not believe I ever left their presence without feeling a bit “greater” myself. (I had the good fortune to play a bit of professional basketball. I found that I played my best against the best.) What about the practice of the Presence of God? As the song says, “My God and I go through the fields together. We walk and talk as good friends should and do.” What about talking with the Almighty in prayer? What about reminding ourselves of his great love, sacrifice of his son, his promise of forgiveness, his gift of the Spirit. Can we experience this and not be lifted up? Let’s try try it; we will like it!

Why do we have the finest house of worship that we can afford? We could assemble in a warehouse, and God would, I think, not care. But for our sakes we need to think of God visiting us in our finest apparel and dwelling. A terrible heresy of our time is that everything must be keyed down to man's understanding, lest he get an inferiority complex. Books must be written in the language of the gutter. The phrase is “dumbing down,” and we are getting good at it. Someone wrote:

Emerson did not advocate a twelve-foot ceiling for houses of worship when he said, 'Hitch your wagon to a star.' He knew the wagon would never reach the star, but it would help us stay out of the gutter. The height to which man grows is commensurate with his vision. Set his ceiling at man’s height and he will eventually be living underground.

Herein is the glory of the gospel of Christ. In a time when most everything about us is asking us to look down, Christianity is asking us to look up, to give our devotion to something greater than our little selves. One of my favorite all time songs is George Beverly Shay’s Somebody Bigger than you and I. It is encouraging.

And the glory of Christ is that He put no ceiling over human life. He well knew the potential greatness of the human soul. He brings us, one by one, face to face with God, trusting with that the touch of God upon us we shall rise to the full stature of our potential.