A Picture of Maturity

Have you ever tried to describe something and found it very difficult to put into words, so you said, “let me show you a picture?” Having a smartphone with the internet and a camera makes it so much easier in those situations. It’s been said that “a picture is worth a thousand words” to express the meaning that “seeing something is better for learning than having it described.” 

God has designed you to take in so much information through the eyes that it is hard to convey the depth and precision in words. When we say that a picture is “beautiful” we man so much more than what that one word can convey. Words are powerful and we can learn to use them in transforming ways, but that is another lesson for another day. Pictures illicit immediate reactions and defined meanings. 

Your Life is a Picture

It's the same way with our faith. You can tell someone you are a Christian, tell them the Gospel, but if your life isn’t a picture of Christ then your words will lose power. You see, your life is a picture of your faith. Your actions, attitudes, and words become a canvas for others to looking into your worldview and see what you believe. 

How do you think an objective viewer of your life would describe you? Your faith? 

Paul wanted to encourage the Thessalonian Christians, and us today, to be mature believers. He wrote a letter to them to describe a picture of a mature, committed Christian. He does this by describing what their life should be focused on and what they should be pursuing in 1 Thessalonians 4.

He begins by telling them that they should live a life that is becoming holy or set apart (1 Thess. 4:1-8). What is holiness? Volleyball season is starting soon and my players have to have a pair of shows that are only worn in the gym. These shows are “set apart” for volleyball. Their shows are “holy unto volleyball” or “sanctified for volleyball.” This means they will only be used in a certain environment for a certain purpose to preserve them for effectiveness and longevity. It also is a rule to protect the expensive wooden floors of the court. 

When a sports player has holy, set apart, shoes, it benefits her and others in several ways. The shoes stay stronger, last longer, support better, and keep their traction allowing for quick movements in the game. It also means outside dirt, dust, and debris stay off the court. When street shows track dirt onto a court, or wet shoes leave behind a puddle, it makes the floor slippery, potentially leading to injury. 

A Christian’s life is like those shoes, they are to be set apart unto God for His purpose. Being set apart unto God benefits the Christian and those around them. Paul encourages the Christians to be set apart in the way they behave, by abstaining from any form of sex outside of marriage, in self-control over their bodies, and to live pure lives. His advice about purity in sexuality is as relevant today as it was 2,000 years ago. We live in an over-sexualized culture and pure, modest living today stands out to the unbelievers. 

A Christian is to live a life that learns to love others more, a genuine love for others (1 Thess. 4:9-10). This is a basic one, but one that needs repeated. God has taught them from the beginning to love others. God is love, and he has given the greatest example of love in Jesus Christ, and he calls us to grow in our love for others. A Christian who is unloving is no Christian at all. How are you at loving others? 

Paul encourages the Thessalonians that they have already demonstrated that they love others, however, they need to continue to do this more and more. Here at Lakeside, we say that we need to Love God and Care for others. This means that our love for God needs to and will flow in our love and care for others. 

A Christian is to live a life that is growing in hope, focusing on the guarantees in the promises of God (1 Thess. 4:13-18). Hopeful living is a confidence that God is in control in this life and the next life. A Christian believes in the return of Christ, the ultimate justice that God will bring, and an eternal life with God in heaven. When you believe something is guaranteed you have confidence in it. How is your confidence in the future hope? What are your thoughts on heaven? On the return of Christ? Paul writes that we should find encouragement, not fear, in our thoughts about heaven.

A Christian is to live a life that is growing in respect, knowing that it is earned (1 Thess. 4:11-12). Taking care of your own business, doing what needs to be done, and not mooching from others causes people to respect you. Working hard and staying out of trouble earns respect. Some of the Thessalonians had become so focused on the return of Christ that they stopped their jobs and just waited. The longer they waited the hungrier they became. Soon they started trying to live off of others charity and became busybodies and nuisances. Paul pointed out that this did not make Christ look good, but became a distraction to the truth.

Instead, live in such a way that people see Christ in you and want what you have (Matt. 5:16). Lebron said it, “nothing is given, everything is earned.” Don’t look for a handout, work for it. Our life is a picture of what we believe, is it worth looking at?

Here are a few tips on how to live a mature life:

1. Take the high road, pick and choose your fights (2 Tim. 2:23). This will help you make clear decisions (Rom. 12:2).

2. Be open to others, welcoming and hospitable (1 Pet. 4:8-9). This will develop stronger friendships (Rom. 12:10).

3. Be confident in Christ, knowing his words (John 15:10). This will result in a vibrant faith (John 15:5).

4. Have the end in mind, look to the eternal (1 Pet. 1:3-4). This will result in others coming to faith in Jesus Christ (Matt. 5:16).