Becoming Mature: The Adventure of Faith and the Battle Against Sin
What does it truly mean to become a mature Christian? Like a building under construction, our spiritual growth requires substantial foundational work. Once those foundations are firmly in place, everything seems to accelerate. However, many long-time believers find their maturity limited by faulty foundations.
The path to maturity is not always comfortable or cozy. In fact, it's quite the opposite – it's an adventure that comes with its fair share of challenges and inconveniences. As G.K. Chesterton wisely noted, "An adventure is an inconvenience rightly considered. An inconvenience is an adventure wrongly considered." This perspective shift is crucial in our discipleship to Christ.
Consider the story of Moses, a man whose faith led him to make an extraordinary decision. Hebrews 11:24-26 tells us:
"By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward."
Moses' choice wasn't just odd; it was revolutionary. He left the comforts of Egyptian high society to suffer alongside God's people. This decision highlights a key aspect of maturing faith: the willingness to endure personal suffering for Christ. It's about arriving at a place where we're prepared to lay aside temporary pleasures for a greater purpose.
But what exactly was Moses laying aside? The scripture calls it the "fleeting pleasures of sin." This brings us to a critical point in our discussion of spiritual maturity – the reality and nature of sin.
In our modern culture, we've largely forgotten or minimised the concept of sin. As Cornelius Plantinga Jr. points out in his book "Not The Way It's Supposed To Be," this loss of consciousness about sin is devastating. It's like a narcotic that suppresses our spiritual central nervous system, making us religiously "unmusical" and unable to recognise the themes God plays in human life.
Understanding sin is crucial for our spiritual growth. Sin is the internal enemy of our maturity, an anti-shalom force that disrupts our relationship with God and others. It's not just about breaking rules; it's about missing the mark, wandering from the path, and resisting God's design for creation and redemption.
The gravity of sin is beautifully captured in Anselm of Canterbury's 11th-century work "Cur Deus Homo" (Why God Became Man). Anselm emphasises that to truly appreciate the wonder of Christ's work, we must first grasp the seriousness of sin. This understanding correlates directly with our realisation of the power and beauty of the gospel.
So how do we combat sin and pursue purity in our lives? The Psalmist provides wisdom in Psalm 119:9: "How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word." This verse introduces three key strategies for maintaining purity and growing in maturity:
Seeking God Wholeheartedly The Psalmist declares, "With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments" (Psalm 119:10). This isn't about philosophical arguments for God's existence; it's about pursuing a relationship with the living God. When we seek Him, we often find that the Holy One is also the Blessed One, transforming our fear into praise.
Treasuring God's Word "I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you" (Psalm 119:11). The word of God isn't just a rulebook; it's a transformative power. As we internalise Scripture, it becomes the Spirit's instrument to preserve us from sin and shape our character.
Rejoicing in God's Ways "In the way of your testimonies I delight as much as in all riches" (Psalm 119:14). Finding joy in God's ways suffocates the presence of sin in our lives. While we won't achieve perfection in this life, the more we delight in God's path, the more we'll experience freedom from sin's power.
These strategies remind us that the battle against sin isn't fought through sheer willpower. Instead, it's won through a deepening relationship with God, a love for His word, and a growing delight in His ways.
As we pursue spiritual maturity, let's remember that it's an adventure – one that may involve inconveniences and challenges but leads to incomparable rewards. Like Moses, we're called to look beyond the fleeting pleasures of this world to the greater wealth found in Christ.
Our journey towards maturity isn't about perfection; it's about progress. It's about developing a keen awareness of sin's reality while simultaneously growing in our appreciation for God's grace. As we do so, we'll find ourselves becoming more "musically" attuned to the themes God is playing in our lives and in the world around us.
Let's embrace this adventure of faith, fighting against sin not out of duty, but out of a growing love for God and a deepening understanding of His word. As we do, we'll find ourselves on a path of true spiritual maturity – one that leads to a richer, fuller life in Christ.
