The
question could also be applied to people in a spiritual sense. What causes some people to grow straight and
tall as if stretching toward the heavens, while others struggle to find their
direction? Can we determine the
direction toward which our own lives grow?
For
plants, the secret lies in growth hormones called auxins. These hormones cause a plant to bend toward
the light and away from gravity. The
word auxin comes from the same Greek word, meaning “to cause growth,” that
Peter used in 2 Peter 3:18 where he wrote, “But grow in the grace and knowledge
of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (NIV).
Peter’s careful word choice and the verb form he used teach us a great
deal about our own spiritual growth: (1)
growth is not optional, it is imperative; (2) growth is not reserved for the
future or stuck in the past, it is to occur right now; (3) growth ought to be
continual and unceasing; (4) growth is not something that happens passively, we
have an active part.
As the
trees in that nearby field have grown in the same direction together, much of
our spiritual growth takes place as we surround ourselves with others who seek
to grow in the same direction. It
remains imperative that we actively place ourselves in environments that enable
us to learn more about the Bible, discuss with others what it means to live as
a follower of Jesus, gain support from one another in the midst of living life,
be encouraged, and encourage others to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our
Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” Let’s be
people who grow straight and tall as stretching toward the heavens for the
glory of God!
