There is always a place higher than the beginning. Principles are the foundation on which ideas, faith, decisions…are built. It is the basic explanation of how something works. It is the rudiments, the starting point the means to an end. Those that remain at the ‘principles level’ are called amateurs. They do not become professionals even though they know the same principles that the professionals know.
For instance, a nurse who has participated in a couple of surgeries may have an idea of how to perform basic surgical operations, but it would be suicidal to expect the nurse to open up somebody’s heart.
Likewise, it is not everyone that can sing “d: r: m: f: s: l: t: d:” that is a musician. Many don’t go beyond the rudiments. It is good to go through the rudiments and understand the underlying principles in anything one does so as to always be positioned to know which one to apply and how to apply it in practical situations.
When I was asked whether I was born again 25 years ago, my response was “I am gradually becoming born again.” I said that because I didn’t know better.
Thanks to God, with patience, the principles of becoming a born again Christian was made known to me and I applied it. From that moment, I began to experience great transformation for which I’ll ever be grateful.
Some besetting sins I had been struggling to overcome for years became irritating to me and were overcome within a few months of meditating on the Word of God and praying daily as instructed.
It’s pathetic in our days that people are majoring on principles. Of what use is it building a foundation that would never be built upon?
Men and women that should launch into the deep to catch big fishes are playing at the shallow part of the water catching tadpoles!
It seems the devil no longer fights hard to prevent people from yielding to altar calls. He however does his best to keep them holding “feeding bottles” containing the basic nutrients, thereby preventing them from reaching maturity where they can eat strong meat and even crack bones that will enable them have energy to do exploits for the Master.
Enough is enough! We’ve got to move on to perfection. Lake is not the best source of water for man’s consumption because the water moves nowhere!
Remaining at the principle level is retardation. Becoming a Christian is just the beginning of the journey and not the destination.
Yes, thank God you are saved. But you also need to realise that you are being saved only if you continue in the Word of God! It is not everyone that went to Nursery and Primary School that can be described as being educated. Many fall by the way side and that is why it is often said that beginning is not the main thing.
Continuity and getting to the finish line in the kingdom race is the end that justifies the means.
Let’s examine the principles mentioned in Heb 6:1:
- The foundation of repentance,
- Faith toward God,
- The doctrine of baptism,
- The laying on of hands,
- The resurrection of the dead, and
- Eternal judgment.
Volumes have been written on each of these principles. The effect is that we have placed so much emphasis on them that newly converted souls may end up not even knowing that Christianity is more than “what else can I get from God?”
There is also the giving part. When the pastor announces, “giving time”, many respond hypocritically, “blessing time”; but if their hearts were to be examined, their sincere response would have been “grumbling time”! Grumblers cannot move towards perfection. Those that murmured in the wilderness on the way to the promised land were all destroyed by an angel assigned to do that.
The word perfect, is confusing to many believers. They struggle and try to be perfect and when they realise there are still shortcomings, they give up. Moving unto perfection is a command. If it is an impossibility, we would not be asked to move.
Mtt 5:48 says, “Be ye therefore perfect even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.”
The word translated “perfect” in this scripture is teleois i.e. complete (in various applications of labour, growth, mental and moral character, etc.) completeness:—of full age, man, perfect.)
Giving up is not a means of becoming perfect. I have been asked many times, if it’s possible to be perfect as God is perfect; and my answer has always been “Yes” and “No.”
We cannot be perfect if we trust in our own righteousness. Strict compliance with all moral laws does not mean that we are perfect. That explains the reason for the “No” answer. We have to be careful however not to overstretch this so that it does not become a licence for some to sin wilfully. We cannot continue in sin and expect grace to abound. No way. (Rom 6:1).
On the flip side is the “Yes” answer. There is something called imputed righteousness. If by Adam, we inherited the nature of sin, can’t we also inherit the nature of righteousness through the One that died for us? Yes it is possible. If we are yielded to Him, the Holy Spirit gives us the power to do right. If we go wrong, He is there to convict us so that we may repent and be restored to the position of purity..
The Place Of Faith In Moving Towards Perfection.
Without faith, Abraham would not have moved a bit when instructed by God to move to a land that he’ll be shown. Though he had no idea of where the place would be like, he moved. Gen 12. He moved because he knew that without faith it is impossible to please God (Heb 11:6).
Can we be in perfect health not needing medication for example? Yes. Many are enjoying divine health already. Most of them did not come to that level overnight. They worked at it, developed their faith and trusted in God. If we then believe that we cannot be perfect, then we’ll go no where but remain at the babyhood stage.
A child that would not believe that he would become great through education will not pay serious attention to his school work. Therefore, believing that there is a higher place, a better life, a higher glory than whatever level that we are now is one of the major prerequisite of moving into perfection.
What Level Of Perfection Can We Attain In This World?
I describe earthly perfection to be that level where you can hear God clearly, distinguish His voice from that of the devil, the world and flesh and paying most detailed attention to His Word by obedience.
Just in the same way you expect your earthly children to understand your faintest sighs, so does your heavenly father expect you to trust Him and keep to His commandments.
Dear friend, aren’t you tired of remianing at the babyhood stage? Come on, when will you grow up? When will you realise that the giver is more blessed than the receiver? When will you be done with that personal pride that hinders you from evangelising? When will you pray and know the will of God before embarking on any project?
Do you want to grow? Are you tired of your lukewarm position? What are the steps?
- Know where you are and understand that you have the ability to be transformed. Part of knowing who you are is to understand whether you are born again or not. If you are not sure whether you are or not, then it is better to be sure.
a. Acknowledge that you are sinner and that you are incapable of saving yourself.
b. Believe in the atonement God has made for your sins through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
c. Confess Jesus’ Lordship over your life.
d. Dedicate your life to Him
Once you don’t believe you have the grace to be received as you are and transformed to a level desired, you cannot move an inch. - Know where you are going. Heaven is still a fairy tale of utopia to many believers and that is why we live anyhow. Do you expect his 2nd coming? Whoever believes there is heaven and that Christ will soon come is purified according to 1 Jn 3:3.
- There is a place for faith. Children don’t jump on strangers. Abram’s faith = righteousness (Gal 3:6). Anything that increases your faith improves your perfection and vice versa.
- The strong meat belongs to people that endure suffering (Heb 5:5-14). If you are not determined to be better, you can never improve because endurance is often needed.
- Copy the person you want to be like. Jesus knew the Father and He knew He was the Word (Col 3:1,2). He also knew the importance of prayer. He did whatever He knew he Father would want Him do. I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father (John 8:38 paraphrased.)
Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me?( John 10:32).
Since we have not been asked to do the impossible, let us with patience run the race before us, knowing that God is happy only when each day draw us closer to His heart. It is when we move to maturity that we glorify Him most and therefore are better prepared for His us. God bless you.