I came across an interesting expression in one of Arthur
Pink’s books—“Career Christian.” Imagine if someone were to ask you, “What is your occupation?” and you answered “I’m a full-time Christian.”
I don’t know about you, but what with setting my mind on
things above, taking all thoughts captive, renewing
my mind, putting off the old self and
putting on the new, watching over my heart with all diligence, letting the peace of God
rule my heart, walking in love, in unity, in light, and by faith, and don't forget walking worthy, speaking the truth in love, loving my brothers and
sisters from the heart, loving my wife as Christ loves the Church,
and making sure all I do, even eating and drinking, glorifies God, well… I’m fully occupied.
Is this what Jesus meant when he said “occupy until I return?” Yes. And, thankfully, He furnishes us with an infinite supply of grace to assure our progress and success until He does return (2 Cor. 9:8; 2 Peter 1:10).
I have two wonderful children, Esther and Joshua, who have become responsible young adults: the ultimate goal of every father. Of course no parent is happy if his child remains immature; so he teaches, trains, and disciplines the child until he reaches adulthood. A mature adult ‘child’ reflects well on a parent! Likewise, God’s ultimate desire is to have many glorious “sons” (Heb. 2:10). [Note: In biblical terminology, “son” is gender-neutral.]
Paul makes a distinction between a child and a son: “sonship” represents growth into the fullness of what our heavenly Father has birthed in us. While sonship is inherent in birth, it must be developed until it is the realization of those possibilities—growing up and attaining full stature (Eph.4:14).
A child has God’s nature. But a son has God’s character. When Paul speaks of being conformed to Jesus’ image, he uses the word “son”—not “child” (Ro. 8:29). When Jesus was 30 (the age at which a Jewish man could enter the priesthood), His Father affirmed Him: “this is my beloved SON in whom I am well pleased” (Mat. 17:5).
When Christ’s work of “bringing man sons to glory” is accomplished, the great climax of the new creation will be “the revealing of the sons of God” (Ro. 8:19). Are you ready to be revealed?
