Articles
Our Unsteady Steps
The Christian author, C.S. Lewis observed that when a young child takes its first unsteady, imperfect steps, his or her father is very pleased. However, that father is far from satisfied. His desire is for his children to someday take the strong, confident strides of a healthy adult.
We have a similar relationship with our heavenly Father. He wants us to walk in the footsteps of his Son, Jesus. God wants us to mature to the point that we are walking exactly like Jesus, who in turn is the exact imprint of God the Father. So, Jesus says, “You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Mat 5:48)
Death will catch us before we have fully reached the likeness of God the Son and God the Father. That is not a defeat, though. As our walk improves, our Father is pleased, even though our walk is still imperfect. We must remember that our Father wants our walk to keep coming closer to the walk of Jesus.
To the Thessalonian Christians who were doing well, Paul didn’t say, “You have arrived.” He said, “Do even better.” “Finally, then, brothers, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to live and to please God, just as you are doing, that you do so more and more.” (1Th 4:1)
When we look at the people around us and feel smug, moral superiority, we must remember that they are not the standard we are measured by. Jesus is. Let’s not be discouraged when we fall. Let’s not become complacent when we do well. Let’s make sure we never end the journey toward perfectly reflecting the Son, “looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith.” (Heb 12:2) -Paul
