Progress is as necessary for man’s spiritual nature as for his fleshly one. We would do well to consider carefully where we are in our spiritual development, then make plans to do better. We would not dare neglect proper progress in our jobs, in our education, or in our financial affairs. Why would we neglect the more important spiritual growth necessary to secure our eternal reward? I believe resolutions toward spiritual maturity are far too often neglected, thus the need for this article.

The necessity for spiritual development is seen in:

The urgency with which it is referred to in the divine directive. For instance, Paul, in Philippians 3:12-14, says that “forgetting the things which are behind,” he presses forward. It is one direction, folks—forward, toward the goal. “Reaching forth,” he says, indicative of an outward focus—his whole being extended toward the goal, reaching, seeking, looking toward the end. “I press toward the mark,” he says. He pursued along a line calculated beforehand, one that was settled in his mind and toward which all his motion was directed. He saw the need to keep his eye fixed. And he saw the need as urgent.

In Ephesians 5:14-16, the exhortation is to awaken and look around to what is important. A man who is asleep sees nothing, knows nothing, does nothing. He suggests the awakening by the gospel so that one becomes illuminated—advised as to what has real value. Darkness and ignorance are equated here; light and seeing are, likewise. So he says one should “redeem the time,” buy up each moment, indicating a steady improvement every day, using every opportunity to do good. Again, he saw the need for such awareness as an urgent one.

The figures used to describe the progress. It is described in Hebrews 12:1-2, along with the passage in Philippians 3:12-14, as a race. There is no crown for those who do not run according to the rules; nor is there a garland of victory for those who do not finish (see Gal. 5:7; 1 Cor. 9:24). This figure emphasizes the importance of our spiritual focus, the progress of our race toward our true destination.

In 1 Timothy 1:18, 2 Timothy 2:4; 2 Corinthians 10:4, the description of our need for progress is put in terms of a war. Our weapons are not carnal, but they are “mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds” (2 Cor. 10:4); but we must put on the panoply of God, gird up our minds, and press on toward the victory. There is not time for quitting, no place of rest. We must press toward the victory. We are at war. There is no time for nonchalance or indifference.

In 1 Peter 2:2 and 1 Pet. 3:18 and in Ephesians 4:14-15, the figure is that of food for growth and nourishment. We are warned about being merely “children, tossed to and fro with every wind of doctrine…” and we are admonished that, no matter our spiritual age, we should earnestly “desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby…” Food—both the spiritual and fleshly varieties—is necessary for growth. Without it we would soon die. And please be advised, that that is just as true spiritually as it is physically. Our stunted spiritual bodies cannot long stand under the strain of our culture. We need spiritual sustenance.

All these figures, and others which could be cited, show the need of progress. A race requires a pressing forward. A war requires advancement against the enemy. And growing requires the wherewithal for proper development. When they are applied to the spiritual needs of men, they become even more graphic, since we know how important our spiritual development is.

The rewards assured for such development. The reward for winning the race is “the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” It includes the approval of God at the judgment, the “enter-in” proclamation of His Son at the last day. Such a reward is unspeakably wonderful. Let us not lose it by default.

The reward for the war is victory over our enemies, sin and the Devil. No more will we have to fight with him, the victory will be ours. The temptations will be gone, the constant struggle to do right will be rewarded with triumph. What a grand consideration.

Our spiritual maturity will result in the resurrection of our bodies to the life God intended for them in the first place. It will be one where tears and sorrows will no longer exist, where there will be no death and no decay. It will be a place where the body will be accorded the pleasure of an eternal existence with our Father.

This same reward can be yours. It awaits all who will strive to grow, to advance, to mature in Jesus Christ.

Copyright (C) 2002-2006 Southside Church of Christ
All rights reserved.