PETRIFIED LOGS OR GROWING TREES
“Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.” Colossians 2:7 NLT
Follow me as I take you back in time for just a moment. Do you remember the first time you ever planted a seed and watched eagerly to see what would become of that seed? You watched every day for a while, and finally, there it is! Surprisingly, it is not the same as when you planted it. Something drastically happened. This is a question I get asked a lot, Is that the baby? I can't believe how he has grown! As a mother of two children, I have observed the growth process of my children as well as other children and adults. As a characteristic of all living things, growth is inevitable. This is a natural process that needs the aid of other aspects such as nutrition, water, sunlight, space, fresh air, habitat and for humans we need rest. This growth process is also not an easy one as cells tear, divide, form new ones, and repair. As we grow physically , emotionally, and socially, we also grow spiritually. Many of us tend to believe that when we grow spiritually, we only need to know more information. While this is true for some part, growing spiritually doesn't only mean knowing more, but it also means doing more and being more. God wants us to grow in Him. He wants us to develop a Christlike character. He wants us to bear much fruit. I wish I could tell you that spiritual growth is an easy process, but it is not. It also comes with tears, rips, sacrifices, trust, repairs, and a lot of faith. This is one process that we have to be comfortable in our uncomfortable state while we trust God's ways and His timing. When we are like Christ, then He will help us to do more, know more, and be more. We become more like Him through His word and building a relationship with Him. 1 Peter 2:2 (NIV) tells us that, ' Like newborn babies, crave the spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation.' We cannot have healthy growth if we do not feed on the word - the spiritual milk. Just like having a newborn child, the milk is only for a period. As the child matures, other 'hard food' is added to the diet. As we feed on spiritual milk as newborns, this is also for a time, but it is the most important for building a strong foundation. The Bible provides strength and nourishment for us, and we can't grow spiritually without it. Scripture reminds us of some aspects of spiritual growth as we mature in our faith: Psalm 92: 12,13 reminds us about growth/change, Hebrews 10:24, tells us about fellowship, Ephesians 2:8-10 highlights the importance of faith, and 1 Timothy 4:14 encourages us that as we grow spiritually, we are to use our spiritual gifts to help others to grow. There are so many scriptures to help us to grow, and God does not want us to stay stagnant in our Christian life. Staying stagnant only causes us to become like 'petrified logs', wood that becomes rock , wood that's buried in wet sediments, lacks oxygen, and is saturated with dissolved minerals. God wants Christians to grow in all aspects of life, like the Hyperion trees found in the Redwood National Park in California. The Christian life is a journey, and thankfully, one that we don't have to travel through uncharted territory alone. We are encouraged that we don't have to understand it all because Jesus has been through this progression already. He will give us the strength to grow and change so we don't become petrified wood but that we will grow in Him, with Him and for Him. With Jesus, we not only have a companion, but we have a guide who's been there, done that, and who will lead us into all truth. We just need to trust and follow Him.