WE continue our look at the critically important principle of Time in our study in the Principles of Spiritual Growth. Miles Stanford used the metaphor of the tree in our last consideration saying, When God wants to make an oak, He takes a hundred years, but when He wants to make a squash, He takes six months, commenting further that seasons and time come into play in a healthy oaks pattern and cycles of growth.
I RECALL a day I had my camera out at school, taking pictures of the children and at one point I stopped to show a couple of young students some pictures on my camera’s digital display of some recent photos I had taken. The pictures were of my backyard, of some striking flowers that had just come into bloom. I had also captured a cluster of oranges on the tree, which we were enjoying in abundance. One of the young girls looking at the pictures has been the recipient of some of my precious figs that I have given to her family in the past. She asked if I had any pictures of those figs and when she “might be seeing more” come her way? I told her she would have to wait; they were still a long way from their season; that the green leaves of the fig tree were just now starting to show. She was sad, but content to wait as I reassured her that they would indeed come, and that I would make sure she got her share. She smiled with a glint of anticipation in her eyes.
THE element of time in the principle of growth is an important principle to learn. We cannot manipulate, force, or change the process to maturity, although we can take steps to see that healthy grow occurs. Again, Lessons From The Garden – I can tell which plant will yield an abundance of fruit or flower as they progress through the seasonal cycle, and those that most likely won’t. I also know what needs to be don’t to encourage the weaker ones, entrusting the final result to the powers of Providence determining whether or not the plant will respond to the needed cultivating, pruning and feeding.
OKAY, it is time to see what our author has to say to our learn the Principle of Time.
In the wondrous blessings of Christ,
Joe
Neh. 8:10, Isa. 30:15 & Job 2:10
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Chapter 2—TIME …..continued
In regard to this subject, some have been betrayed into professing perfection or full deliverance, because at the time they speak they are happy and confident in the Lord. They forget that it is not a present experience that ensures fruit unto maturity, but a patient continuance in well doing. To taste of the grace of God is one thing; to be established in it and manifest it in character, habit, and regular life, is another. Experiences and blessings, though real gracious visitations from the Lord, are not sufficient to rest upon, nor should they lead us to glory in ourselves, as if we had a store of grace for time to come, or were yet at the end of the conflict. No. Fruit ripens slowly; days of sunshine and days of storm each add their share. Blessing will succeed blessing, and storm follow storm before the fruit is full grown or comes to maturity.
In that the Husbandman’s method for true spiritual growth involves pain as well as joy, suffering as well as happiness, failure as well as success, inactivity as well as service, death as well as life, the temptation to shortcut is especially strong unless we see the value of, and submit to, the necessity of the time element. In simple trust we must rest in His hands, “being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Phil. 1:6). And it will take that long! But since God is working for eternity, why should we be concerned about the time involved?
Graham Scroggie affirmed, “Spiritual renewal is a gradual process. All growth is progressive, and the finer the organism, the longer the process.” ….. to be continued
