Seldom is anything accomplished, and done well, through haste. It takes slow and steady determination, hard work and persistent in nearly every aspect of our lives. Church and personal spiritual growth; family, friends and neighbor relations; civic activities, and hobbies all prosper from a slow and steady approach. Let me give you a few examples.
Those of you who have played golf with me know that I am not a tour caliber player. However, I have gotten better over the years. It did not happen overnight. One does not become a great outdoorsman, chef or craftsman without a lot of time and energy invested into those activities. The relationships that I am involved in only get better with time and energy. I love my wife more today than I did nearly 18 years ago when we were married. As time goes, I become a better father and friend. I know that through trial and error, hard work and dedication I will become a better man. However, I still have a lot of growing to do.
In the two and a half years I have been here at Point Pleasant, we have seen growth. We have overcome problems. We are involved in more and have more things happening, but are we where we need to be? It will take a lifetime of slow and steady growth to be what God wants us to be.
How is our service? How is our faithfulness? Do we know the Bible as well as we should? Can it be that some of the things we used to think to be true are not? Do we need to continually keep an open Bible and an open heart before us? Is not this what took place when Apollos was taken aside by Aquila and Priscilla and taught “more perfectly” (Acts 18:26). Was Apollos offended by their attempt to teach him and correct him? Don’t you think Apollos might have had a special place in his heart for their love and help?
The Bible likens our lives here to a farmer who plows his field with patience and determination. Those who look back are not fit to be called His children (Luke 9:62). Paul said he had not yet reached the pinnacle of perfection, but he “pressed on” with steady determination (Philippians 3:13-14). He also tells us to be of the same mind and of the same judgment (Romans 12:16; 1 Corinthians 1:10).
There is one glaring exception to this “slow and steady” rule. Those who are not right with God should not procrastinate in reconciling with the Creator of their souls. Note the example of the Philippian Jailer and his family who, upon hearing the Word of God, “straightway” or “immediately” were baptized in obedience to Christ (Acts 16:33). The verbiage here means literally, “it was done at once.”
If you are not a baptized child of God today, done put it off, do it now! If you are a child of the King and you have not run with patience the race set before us, come back to God. Act immediately to be reconciled to the Creator of your soul. Then you can face eternity slow and steady, with persistence and determination. Be faithful!