Grow up into him in all things!

(Ephesians 4:15) “Grow up into him in all things.”

Did you know that according to the Apostle Paul love never fails? Love never ends [fails (the Greek word “epipto” which means to drop away; specifically to be driven out of one’s course; figuratively to lose, become inefficient)]. (1Corinthians 13:8)  Now we know the love of man often fails, or we would not see so many divorces throughout the world. After all isn’t the reason we get married, because we love someone and they love us back…

On the evidence of this graph, I was about to pen that times had changed and this lure was a lot worse than periods past. But if I was to reason like that my head would be in the clouds and full of pigmented imagination. Sexual immorality has always played its part throughout time. Even Sodom and Gomorrah was a city that God destroyed through judgment because of their wickedness and it was a result of their warped lust. We also see in the time of the Corinthian Church that the Greek culture was full of love feasts. Sexual orgies part of their culture! Let me spend some time on misguided lust as it has had its part to play in my life, why else would I be HIV Positive; we also know that God has so designed us that we are attracted by nature to the opposite sex. A man is attracted to a woman and for this reason; “Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.” (Genesis 2:24) 

It therefore is good for a woman to leave her father and then to be cleaved to a man as they two become one flesh. Marriage has been God’s design from the beginning. This is no longer the normal way of thinking amongst the masses, but I wonder how many apparent Christians understand this principle. “The two shall become one flesh”! Satan no doubt understands the significance of this truth as we can witness throughout scripture how he has lured those into fornication through adultery and fornication and it is still rife amongst us today.

Technology has not helped as we all have access to the lures of this lust through this medium. I know as it has ensnared me over time and I know I do not stand alone. Nevertheless this is what the scripture has to say about this very serious topic; “Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never! Or do you not know that he who is joined to a prostitute becomes one body with her? For, as it is written, "The two will become one flesh."” (1Corinthians 6:15-16): - We also know; “The eye of the adulterer also waits for the twilight, saying, 'No eye will see me'; and he veils his face.” (Job 24:15); - We think we will get away with secret sins, but God sees all! I suppose it is one thing to actually fall in a sexual act with someone other they ones wife, but even if we look upon a woman with intent we have committed adultery. This is what the Lord Jesus taught and with it comes a stern warning!

"You have heard that it was said, 'You shall not commit adultery.' But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell.” (Matthew 5:27-29)

Let me then be clear, I have fallen many times in this area of my life, both in actuality as well as with lustful intent. Nevertheless we can never try justifying our actions as acceptable, we must repent and seek the throne room of grace to overcome if we have been and are still being lured by this trap. May God give us strength to fight this on-going battle so many face. Nothing is and will ever be hidden from our great God, Jehovah God. Our great King, the Lord Jesus Christ has paid the ultimate price for our sins and we now need to look to Him to put off all that hinders.

Some have overcome and we praise God for them, we know that the Apostle Paul was clear in this matter; “Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never!” (1Corinthians 6:15)

Having now established where we should be and the mind of Christ on this matter I come back to my opening statement, “Love never ends (fails)”. God is love and He is perfect and someone who is perfect can never make a mistake. We may make many mistakes throughout our lifetime, but not God.

So if you now have His Spirit, you are known by Him and you are His Son then heed the warnings look to Him to overcome whatever your struggle may be, I have but highlighted just one facet of life and there are many we could discuss but know this God will never fail. Let me leave you with these very encouraging words from a dedicated brother of the Christian cause…

“Grow up into him in all things.”

- Eph_4:15

Many Christians remain stunted and dwarfed in spiritual things, so as to present the same appearance year after year. No up-springing of advanced and refined feeling is manifest in them. They exist but do not “grow up into him in all things.” But should we rest content with being in the “green blade,” when we might advance to “the ear,” and eventually ripen into the “full corn in the ear?” Should we be satisfied to believe in Christ, and to say, “I am safe,” without wishing to know in our own experience more of the fulness which is to be found in him. It should not be so; we should, as good traders in heaven’s market, covet to be enriched in the knowledge of Jesus. It is all very well to keep other men’s vineyards, but we must not neglect our own spiritual growth and ripening. Why should it always be winter time in our hearts? We must have our seed time, it is true, but O for a spring time-yea, a summer season, which shall give promise of an early harvest. If we would ripen in grace, we must live near to Jesus-in his presence-ripened by the sunshine of his smiles. We must hold sweet communion with him. We must leave the distant view of his face and come near, as John did, and pillow our head on his breast; then shall we find ourselves advancing in holiness, in love, in faith, in hope-yea, in every precious gift. As the sun rises first on mountain-tops and gilds them with his light, and presents one of the most charming sights to the eye of the traveller; so is it one of the most delightful contemplations in the world to mark the glow of the Spirit’s light on the head of some saint, who has risen up in spiritual stature, like Saul, above his fellows, till, like a mighty Alp, snow-capped, he reflects first among the chosen, the beams of the Sun of Righteousness, and bears the sheen of his effulgence high aloft for all to see, and seeing it, to glorify his Father which is in heaven. (C.H.Spurgeon)

Therefore; “If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell.” (Matthew 5: 29)

My prayer Father God is that you would help all of us deal with the tares of life, glorifying your name.

Signing off

Tyrone