Are we there yet? If not, how will we know when we get there? Early in my Christian walk I came in possession of a little book that deeply influenced my relationship with the Lord. Hudson Taylor’s Union and Communion uses the Song of Solomon to describe our personal relationship with Christ. The author points out that the Bride goes through various stages of communion, broken communion, restoration and ultimately unbroken communion with the Bridegroom. When I read this as a young believer, I was saddened that my fellowship with the Lord would have to go through these stages, but when I saw how weak I was and how consistent His love was, I was encouraged to set my love upon Him, while accepting His mercy and grace for the road ahead. To answer the questions above, I would say that we have arrived at spiritual maturity when we have become strong in grace and not our own strength, when the word of God abides in us richly, when we have overcome the evil one, and when our knowledge of the Lord is so deep that our fellowship with Him is unbroken (1Jn. 2:12-14). I have walked with the Lord many years but I still cannot say that I am there yet. The path I have followed continues to lead me closer to the goal which is for the fullness of God to dwell in me in such a way that His love is perfected in me (Eph. 3:19).
In this series of articles we have meditated on the eight qualities needed for spiritual maturity: faith, virtue, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness and love (2Pe. 1:5-8). These are qualities that must be added to each other in a specific order; they are described as steps to maturity. The last quality to be added is love. This is a perfected love because it is supported by the other qualities. It is a love that bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things and endures all things (1Cor. 13:7). It is a love that overcomes evil because we conduct ourselves in the manner described by Paul: “Bless those who persecute you…Repay no one evil for evil…If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men…Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” (Rom. 12:14-21) It is a love that lays down its life for others, in surrender to God.
The maturity we seek is a new creation where we are living stones in a spiritual house, members individually of a corporate body. We see God’s purpose for the Church to rule and reign with Christ as His Bride. We seek a maturity where there is no more competition, selfish ambition or conceit; where in humility, we are putting the needs of others ahead of ourselves. Much harm has been done to the body of Christ by leaders who are not ready to lead. Scripture tells us that we should not be too eager to become teachers because teachers will receive a stricter judgment. “For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body.” (Jas. 3:1-2) Jesus says that we will be judged by the words of our mouth (Matt. 12:36-37). Wisdom is a characteristic of spiritual maturity, but it is not just a matter of the mind, it must be demonstrated in action. “Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom.” (Jas. 3:13) We are very near the days when Christ will purify His Church (Mal. 3:1-3). In the book of Malachi we find that the Lord is speaking mostly to the leaders. He concludes with a promise to send the prophet Elijah in the last days to help restore leaders who will have a shepherd’s heart. “And he will turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the earth with a curse.” (Mal. 4:6) The restoration of ministers after God’s heart will help to bring about the unity and growth that is needed in the Church before the Lord returns. (See Jer. 23:1-4) I do not think it necessary for every individual believer to have reached spiritual maturity before the Lord returns, but I do believe that the leaders must have.
The end-time Church will also walk in such power that we will do the works Jesus did and even greater works (Jn. 14:12). Growth in this area must be both individual and corporate. To walk consistently in this power we must have faith and the right character. After Jesus sent out the disciple to preach the gospel and heal the sick, they returned rejoicing that the demons were subject to them. Jesus called them babes and instructed them to rejoice rather in the fact that their names were written in heaven (Lu. 10:17-21). The Corinthian believers had the gifts of the Spirit in operation but they were still spiritually immature (1Cor. 3:1). Paul instructed them to eagerly desire the gifts but to operate them in love (1Cor. 14:1). If I have faith for miracles but do not operate in love, I am not pleasing the Lord. On the other hand, if I claim to love others but am not seeking the gifts to bring God’s blessings to them, I am also not pleasing the Lord. Jesus went about preaching and healing and He sent His disciples to do the same. A mature Church will be full of God and will go about doing good and healing all that are under the power of the devil (Acts 10:38).
There is coming an evil day when the Church will need to stand against all the forces of the enemy (Eph. 6:13). What will make this task even more difficult will be the influence of those who call themselves Christians but are “traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power.” (2Tim. 3:4-5) We must do all to grow in Christ until that day, as we look for the appearing of our Lord. Peter ends his teaching on these eight qualities by saying: “Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.” (2Pe. 1:10-11)
Highway in the Wilderness 