When I Grow Up

Many of us experience degrees of P.P.S. We want to play instead of clean up the wrapping paper. We would rather get toys than underwear. We want to open presents before the sun comes up. OK, maybe I've gotten over that last one. But I think I'd be much more enthusiastic about the pre-dawn present-opening crew invading my bedroom if I didn't have to stay up until two o'clock wrapping last-minute gifts and stuffing all those stockings. Before I grew up, I stayed up until two o'clock because I was too excited to sleep. Funny how growing up changes things.

And isn't it funny how much time we spent as children thinking about what we wanted to be when we grew up? When my oldest son was around three years old, he always had an answer when anyone asked the "What do you want to be when you grow up?" question. He said he either wanted to be a preacher like his daddy, or a trashman. Interestingly, now that he's a little older, I think he still might be leaning toward garbage. I wonder if he still thinks the garbage man only works on Tuesdays.

I'm not worried about his career decision. After all, there are lots of adults who still aren't sure what they want to be when they grow up. There are lots of us who haven't quite even nailed down the growing up part.

Growing up is a lot more than getting older. Ephesians 4:12-13 says, "to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ." Paul puts a whole new spin on growing up spiritually when he defines becoming mature as "attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ."

Then he tells us a little bit about how we'll behave when we have attained: "Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work." (14-16).

When we've attained, we won't be "infants" any more. Babies are adorable. But adult babies are...well, they're sort of sad. Paul describes spiritual babies as those who don't know what they believe. They swallow whatever weird teaching they heard last. They believe liars and many perpetuate the lies, spreading deceit right on to the next generation. That is sad, isn't it?

Enough baby stuff. It's time to "grow up into him...Christ." Know what you believe and why you believe it. Grownups know the truth and speak it in love (vs. 15). Once you know the real truth, you can pass your grown-up legacy on to your children, instead of passing on the wishy washy lies that are attached to the baby stuff. Paul tells us in verse 16 just what a grownup looks like. He has Jesus in control and he's a hard worker--one who supports others and builds them up in love.  That's what I want to be when I grow up!

Let's keep in mind that there are times when it's good to be like a baby. First Peter 2:2 says, "Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation." It's not wrong to be a baby. It's just not healthy to stay a baby. Every healthy baby grows.

Don't worry. Growing up "in your salvation" doesn't really have anything to do with P.P.S. I think it's still OK to wish for toys instead of underwear. The important kind of growing up involves getting in on the "spiritual milk" that helps us grow up in our relationship with Jesus. Reading God's Word, building a super-charged prayer life and staying surrendered to Christ day by day is sort of the "cow" that provides that milk.

"Got Christ?"

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Contributed by Rhonda Rhearrhea@juno.comRhonda Rhea writes for dozens of great Christian publications and speaks at conferences and events across the country. You can find her new book, Amusing Grace, at your local Christian bookstore. Rhonda's husband, Richie Rhea, is a pastor in Troy, Missouri. You can reach them through her Web site atwww.rhondarhea.net