“But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things…” (Eph. 4:15)
There was a woman who lived in Virginia years ago. Her unique story was told in the Virginia Medical Monthly. She had grown up normally, married, and had three children. Life was good until the husband and father died when the children were in high school.
The mother became intensely devoted to her children. So much so that she changed her clothes to those of a girl of 20, and joined in her children’s parties and fun.
In a few years, the children noticed that as they grew older their mother was growing younger. Psychiatrists call it “personality regression,” which means “a person going backward.” Usually such people stop going backward at a certain age. But not this woman. She slipped backward at the rate of one year for every three or four months of time that went forward. Although she was 61 years old she acted and talked like a 6-year-old. She was sent to a sanitarium, where she insisted on wearing short dresses, playing with toys, and babbling like a child.
Then she became like a three-year-old; she spilled her food, crawled on the floor, and cried “Mama.” Backward still further to the age of one, she drank milk and curled up like a tiny baby. Finally, she went back over the line and died!
Even worse than physical regression is spiritual regression. Peter says we are to “grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ” (2Peter 3:18).
The church isn’t one giant nursery meant to pass out baby bottles and pacifiers to everyone who walks through its doors. It is a training ground for “growing up” into mature Christians who represent Jesus and are strong in faith.
Arte you growing UP, or growing DOWN?