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 people in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.
Ephesians 4:14,15
It’s one thing to be childlike. Innocent. Pure. Inquisitive. We’re attracted to young children for their boundless energy and enthusiasm. We watch with fascination as they move about, looking at everything with eyes wide open to learn. They energize us, give us hope for today and tomorrow.
But it’s something altogether different to be childish. Foolish. Impulsive. Juvenile. We want to turn away when someone behaves childishly. And then run away. It’s never attractive at all.
And that’s the warning for us and all believers in Jesus. Unity, knowledge, and maturity will protect us from being childish. They are a safe harbor that will defend us when the storms of life to come. Not if they come, but when they come. Unity, knowledge, and maturity tie us down, hold us secure as the storm blows and the waves crash.
God has a purpose for you and me. Unity, knowledge, and maturity help us along the way. They guide us toward the goal. They prevent us from being caught and carried around in a circle. You don’t go anywhere; you don’t make any real progress when you go in circles.
These winds of teaching are different doctrines and philosophies come from all sorts of people. They will use any and every trick in the book, and then some, to distract anyone and everyone.
Like hungry animals in wild, they are always looking for the easy kill. The young. The weak. The lame. Those who don’t keep up with the safety of the pack.
Their goal is not to inform, but to trick and deceive. Their goal is for us to get our eyes off of Jesus. Who he is. What he did. The price he paid. They want to move us from the solid ground of the faith and knowledge of the Son of God[1].
Their deceitful scheming starts with a well-planned method and system. They are not fools. They have practiced long and hard. They have memorized their approach and lines. Their hard work puts most Christians to shame.
And one of the ways their deceitfulness comes out is through their unwillingness to come straight out and talk. Who they are. Who they follow. What they believe.
I’ve had the opportunity and privilege to talk with many people that have knocked on our front door from time to time. Or people that set up tables in front of popular public places. You have to admire their hard work, determination, and willingness to publicly talk about what they believe.
And while they know a lot about what they believe, they are reluctant to say anything about one particular area. They focus on being friendly. They’re all smile. They’re dressed conservatively and talk about how they are interested in us.
They love to talk about the birth of Christianity and how that was so great. But then, quickly, there was a falling away from the truth. The genuine good news was gone. The authentic Jesus was lost. The original, God-given teachings were overrun with deception, burying the true Jesus and true Christianity for centuries.
While I’ve studied their original leaders and teachings, I always come back to the person of Jesus. I ask two simple questions.
Is Jesus the Son of God? They excitedly always answer yes.
Is Jesus God the Son? That’s the central question and where they start to hem and haw
Jesus clearly claimed to be God. There is no misunderstanding. There is no missing his words and actions, all claiming that he was God Almighty. The creator and sustainer of the universe.
But it gets more interesting. Jesus received worship. Only God is to be worshiped[2]. The people around him, those who heard him and knew him best[3] all worshiped him[4]. Click here[5] for a short video on Jesus claiming to be God.
God doesn’t want you to be tossed about. He doesn’t want you to be uncertain about who he is. His payment for the sins of the world. He wants you to live with unmovable certainty about life here on planet Earth and eternal life with him in heaven.
Life with God is as real as it gets. It’s as certain as it gets. He’s more dependable and trustworthy than the ground beneath your feet. When we live for him, we won’t be moved. We won’t be tossed.
Noodling Questions
What thoughts go through your head when you see someone acting childish?
Describe what your life’s like when it’s being tossed around.
Explain why it’s important that Jesus was/is God.
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