But whoever does not have them is short-sighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins. 2 Peter 1:9, NIV

 

One of the most tragic scenes in life would be if our children do not develop into adults. I wonder if our heavenly Father also feels this sadness when his children always remain spiritual babies and do not develop to spiritual maturity.

 

Today’s verse talks about people who have come to the point where they have accepted Christ as their Saviour. There was a day in their lives when the Holy Spirit convicted them of sin. They discovered that they were lost without Christ and unable to save themselves. They surrendered to the Lord, accepting his grace for salvation. It was wonderful to know they are forgiven and have received a new life in Christ. However, that is where they remained. They did not spend time with the Lord. They have not developed a hunger and a thirst for his Word. They are children of God, but spiritually immature; they live as if they do not know Christ. Is this also true of you? A person went to a spiritual camp or to a mass meeting led by a great evangelist. In the conviction of the moment, you came forward and surrendered your life to Christ. But when you came home, reality struck you hard. You kept on being busy, bills had to be paid and appointments in your diary had to be honoured. Slowly, you started drifting away from Jesus without realising it.

 

Peter says in today’s verse that when we are not actively growing in faith, we are short-sighted and even blind. We do not see what God has intended for us. We do not walk the path of life with him; we keep on walking in our own direction. We do not grow in spiritual maturity and God cannot use us to grow his kingdom. We do not share Christ with others.

 

There may be many reasons why people do not grow in faith. This is why Jesus told the parable of the sower in Matthew 13:1-7. Some of the seed fell on a path and the birds had a feast. These are the people on whom God’s grace makes no impact at all. Some of the seed fell on a rocky place and it started to grow. But in the hot sun, it withered and died. Jesus explained that these people put down no roots in faith and when trouble came, they did not stand the test (Matthew 13:21). The third image is of seed falling among the thorns and Jesus explained it as people overcome by the worries or pleasures of this world (Matthew 13:22). But the blessed person receives the seed of God’s grace like seed falling on good soil, where it grows and bears fruit, a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.

 

Peter says if you have heard the gospel of God’s grace and it does not transform your life, you are short-sighted or even blind to what God plans for you. But when we take the Word seriously, spending time with God and growing in faith, we become more fruitful to his glory, as Jesus commanded in John 15:8. Do not be blind, spend time with Jesus!

 

Prayer: Lord, lead me on the journey of growing in my faith. Let the seed of your Word always fall on good soil in my heart. Help me to bear fruit that honours you. Your way is the best way for me! Amen.