A baby can enjoy this world, but only on the baby level. It is also true that Christians can enjoy Heaven on the baby level, but it is not what God wants for any of us. He desires that we enjoy, not only Heaven, but life right now on the adult, mature level.
No normal Christian wants to remain a babe in Christ. He wants to grow up to become a mature believer. This is a God-given desire which finds its basis in the promises of God. Our Lord said, “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness:for they shall be filled” (Matthew 5:6).
This is what Paul is talking about when he says, “That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection … “ (Philippians 3:10). We learn through Scripture to know much about Christ, but there is a difference between knowing about Him – knowing that we are members of His body and other glorious truths -and knowing Him in a personal way through fellowship.
We learn that in Him dwells all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. The fulness of God dwells in Him and He dwells in us. We learn to know Him by His wonderful name, ” … l AM … “ (Exodus 3:14). ” .. .I AM … ” – what? “I am all that my people need,” so we can finish the sentence with our own need. “He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?” (Romans 8:32). Christ, therefore, is everything that we need to make us mature and useful in the Christian life. We learn all this in His Word, but the command is to “Study … “ (2 Timothy 2:15).
What an inspiration it is to study with others who are hungry and thirsty! This is the best recipe for keeping young. Try it!
Coffee breaks are very popular these days. Why not invite a neighbor or two in for a cup of coffee or tea or a glass of lemonade and study your Sunday school lesson together. This is a small beginning, but “great oaks from little acorns grow.” You can never know the help and the joy that a time spent with the Word can mean to you until you do it. Time? The devil will always see to it that we have no time for the Word if we let him. We must make time for the best things. “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness … ” (Matthew 6:33). Those who have formed this habit find they are better mentally, physically, and spiritually.
The Gospel Standard