In the past several weeks Brad and I have welcomed our fourth and fifth grandbabies, Harley Joel and Adelynn Grace, into the world. It’s one of the most incredible feelings, I found myself wanting to laugh and cry at the same time.
As I was holding each of them, I had overwhelming thoughts of what Heaven must be like when someone is “born-again”; when a person who was lost is found, who was dead and now lives. I was reminded of the joy God feels when He welcomes a new soul into His family. The Bible gives us a peek in Luke 15:7...
“In the same way, I tell you that there will be more joy in Heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous ones who do not need to repent.”
Luke 15:10 then says...
“In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of God's angels over one sinner who repents."
As wonderful as it is to have a newborn baby, we don’t want them to stay that way. It’s nice for a while, but getting up every two hours for feedings gets rough after a few weeks. We want them to grow and develop. 1 Peter 2:2 says...
“Like newborn infants, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation”.
We want to cheer them on as they conquer new challenges. Harley is only four weeks old and he is already rolling over! If we take joy in their accomplishments, then how much more does God rejoice over ours?
There comes a time when you want your child to go beyond just milk. In order to eat solid food you have to have teeth and the teething process is uncomfortable and usually painful but in the end it brings great joy. God wants us to experience the meat of the Word, to grow in our faith. He wants us to read, meditate and understand His word, to be righteous, and to be in right standing before Him. God wants us to put into action the things we have learned. Hebrews 5:11-13 says...
“…but it is hard to make it clear to you because you no longer try to understand. In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness.”
How heart-wrenching it must be for God to have children who refuse to grow up, who can still only take milk after two, three, or even 10 years. There are many Christians in the church today that come week after week, they listen but never put into action what they have heard. Hebrews 5:14 says...
“But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.”
As I look at my new grandchildren with love and anticipation I can’t help but wonder what God thinks when He looks at me. God, Abba, our Father, wants us to grow, to use what we have learned. He is anxiously waiting to see what you will do next… is it time for you to say your first words, take your first step?