It has been fascinating to watch over the past few months the development of the tadpoles in my pond. It’s not a “proper” pond but an old bath that I asked the workmen to leave when they put a shower in my council bungalow. A friend dug a hole at the top of the garden and put the old bath in, and then I waited for the rain.
It was a couple of years before there was much activity, and then two years ago a disease wiped them out, the frog spawn died, it was horrible. I emptied the pond and scrubbed it, and waited for the rain. This year has been the best for those lovely creatures, I even had a newt move in, that’s never happened before. I have a chair and go up and sit quietly and watch them, for the past few weeks tiny frogs have been leaving, but some haven’t matured yet, some still have tails and legs, some a tail and two legs, and some have remained the same. I am sure an expert would be able to tell me why.
I thought about this, how when some sinners turn to the Saviour and profess to be born again, they stay the same as the day it happened, there is no growth, no seeking after knowledge of God, and no fear of the Lord, they seem content not to know any more.
Others who desire to know more, develop at a different pace. Age is not a sign of Christian maturity, and neither is the length of time we are born again.
Romans 15:1 We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.
We are all to grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 3:18
As in the natural, so in the spiritual, we all learn and grow at different rates, but those who are growing faster, are to help those with less maturity and understanding. We are to build one another up, help one another, and accept each other’s growth. God is patient and faithful to each one of us. And one day, He will finish the work He began. Philippians 1:6 and we shall awake in His likeness.