Growing up too fast

 

Ephesians 5:1-2

Jonathan Edwards, the 18th century revivalist preacher said: "In all your course, walk with God and follow Christ as a little, poor, helpless child, taking hold of Christ's hand, keeping your eye on the mark of the wounds on his hands and side, whence came the blood that cleanses you from sin and hiding your nakedness under the skirt of the white shining robe of his righteousness." I suspect most of us don't like to consider ourselves children. We'd like to think we've grown up and have become competent women and men. In many ways, we have. Somehow, we hold down jobs, build careers, raise kids or make it through year after year. But the child metaphor reminds us of our place before God. We pray to "our Father," after all. Yes, children grow up and mature and our faith should do the same. But we are still children. Children of God, of course, but still children. Ephesians 5 opens with the admonishment to "be imitators of God, as beloved children" (5:1). The epistle's encouragement is to not let go of the child metaphor. It keeps us grounded and points us to the One who is always greater than ourselves. You may feel confident and strong in your workplace or among your friends and family. But what are we compared to God? So, we do well to keep in mind Jonathan Edwards' word. As beloved children, we aren't wandering through life. Instead, we are walking with God, holding the hand of Christ. And as we hold his hand we can't help but notice his scars. They remind us of the work we could never do. The gift we could never achieve. I joke with my adult children all the time about the warnings I gave them about growing up too fast. All the times they desperately wanted to rush to adulthood seem foolish now. Adult bills and responsibilities will do that. Ah, now, aren't we grateful to be children of God? We are in God's care. And it's foolish to want to grow beyond our need for the Lord. Stay blessed...john