We never stop learning and growing, but respond to every opportunity with excitement in order to reach our full potential. (Nashville Rescue Mission Core Value)

As a core value for NRM, the above statement is a path to both individual and corporate growth, with a goal of reaching our full potential as individual employees and as part of the NRM team. In a broader sense, continuous improvement implies a growth in godliness to continue until we pass from this life to eternal life and attain a glorified status. We have been focusing on the path to godliness in our recent study of 2 Peter 1. And Paul likewise provides the path to glorification: “And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified” (Romans 8:30).

What a blessing to know that God made us with the ability and potential to grow. I am astonished really, because a quick look at the nature of nature (not a typo) demonstrates that it is a fundamental principle that things tend to age, decay, rot and eventually to die. This principle applies to living creatures, both plants and animals, and it refers to created things. We know all too well that if we don’t maintain a house, it will eventually collapse, and if we don’t maintain our car, it will stop running.

There is actually a scientific term for this principle–the principle of entropy–which tells us that “everything naturally tends toward disorder.“ As a believer in the Word of God, I think this law came into play at the Fall, which is when death was introduced into the natural order of things. This principle goes on to say that “maintaining order requires energy” and also explains that the only way to defeat entropy, and death, is through an external force.

I know you are not looking for a science lesson, and I am certainly not a science teacher, this is way above my pay grade. However, in Christian terms the Bible tells us, “Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him” (Hebrews 9:27-28). From this passage, we can see that the external force introduced to defeat human death is the victory of Jesus on the cross and his resurrection and ascension to the right hand of God. “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23).

Take a moment to contemplate God’s grand plan of redemption! It’s so beautiful and magnificent and perfect! Praise God!!! God’s Son Jesus has done the work. It is finished. All we must do to take advantage of the victory of eternal life is to accept this free gift. All we need to do to defeat the natural principle of entropy in our own life–to continue our sanctification and growth–is to sincerely pray in surrender “Your Kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven” (Matthew 6:10).

How do we actually participate in this victory over death? How can we “work out (y)our own salvation with fear and trembling” (Philippians 2:12)? How can we continuously improve our spiritual life?

1. By believing that Jesus is our salvation: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).
2. By continually studying and meditating on the Word of God to impress it into our hearts and minds: “Do not conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing, and perfect will” (Romans 12:2).
3. By always trying our best to be obedient: “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15).
4. By carrying out our responsibilities as if we were doing them for God: “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters” (Colossians 3:23).
5. By consistently practicing Christian virtues: “…train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come” (1 Timothy 4:7-8).

With salvation comes the gift of the Holy Spirit and the associated fruit of the Spirit. As believers, we are each gifted with special abilities designed for use in building up the church (which is all believers). Know that God does not evaluate us on the type or quantity of the gifts that He gives us; but he does evaluate us on how well we use what we have. Our path to continuous improvement may not be an unbroken upward trajectory, but we get back up when we fall and keep on keeping on, with the help of the Holy Spirit. We are called to be good stewards of these gifts. We persevere in our efforts toward continuous improvement. What a blessing it is to be a part of this Nashville Rescue Mission ministry and to have these opportunities for participating in the building of God’s Kingdom.

When it is all said and done, we want to hear the commendation of our Lord and Master that we have done our best with the gifts, talents, and resources that He has given us. “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’” (Matthew 25:23).

In Christ,

Judy