Vital Signs

I have recently discovered that I am not as young as I used to be. (Ok, maybe it hasn’t been that recent.) In addition to the hair on my head relocating to my chin and changing color, there are any number of tell-tale signs: the arrival of AARP advertisements in our mailbox, the strange cracks and groans accompanying each attempt to get out of the recliner or car, the too-sweet voice of a cashier cheerfully volunteering, “Oh, let me add the senior discount to that for you.” (The latter is generally followed by some amiable form of address such as “sweetie” or “hon”. The fact that I don’t quite qualify for that discount yet does not seem to matter; apparently, I’ve reached an age at which I look like I should.)

Another indicator of my years increasing is that I seem to be developing deepening relationships with doctors. (This is another occasion for “sweetie” and “hon” from friendly young receptionists and nurses.) Mind you, I have nothing against doctors, per se, but that does not mean I want to spend an abundance of time with them in any official capacity.

Each time I go to an appointment, someone asks the standard questions about billing and health history and current medications. Each time someone asks about or measures my height and weight. Each time they check my blood pressure and pulse. “Let’s check your vitals, Hon.”

All of this is expected and even necessary. These days, it is often accompanied by lab work to check my blood sugar, cholesterol, and who-knows-what-else. Too often in the past few years, it has involved MRIs and CT scans to check on specific issues. To rightly address issues and manage my health, my doctors need to assess what is actually going on by checking key indicators.

Just as we use physical “vital signs” to measure and monitor normal, healthy physical function, we must also be aware of our spiritual vital signs. These are key indicators of normal, healthy spiritual growth in a disciple of Christ. When we are spiritually healthy and growing as we should be, our vital signs will show it. When they do not, it is an indicator that something in our spiritual life is unhealthy.

The call of Scripture to check our spiritual health and maturity like this is loud and clear. In 1 Corinthians 11:28, Paul the Apostle exhorts the church that each person should examine himself before participating in the Remembrance Celebration. He likewise indicates in 2 Cor. 13:5 that Christians ought to test themselves “to see whether you are in the faith.” When Jesus spoke of removing the log from our own eye so that we could properly see to help our brother in Matthew 7:5, He was alluding to this same concept of self-examination. From the Law to the Psalms to the Prophets, God’s people are regularly called to judge ourselves in order to maintain spiritual health and faithfulness. Unless we examine our own lives, we easily allow the influences of the world, the schemes of the devil, and the sinful inclinations of our old nature—who we were before we were reborn in Christ—to have the upper hand.

Healthy physical development is readily observed in various characteristics. Normal growth in a healthy child shows development in (among other things) appetite, energy, wisdom, character, and competence. This is true of healthy spiritual development in the child of God, as well.

APPETITE

An infant or child who lacks an appetite shows that something is amiss. If the condition continues, various effects of malnourishment quickly take hold. Even in a child with a strong appetite, parents must foster healthy eating habits, or the child will develop an appetite for unhealthy things.

The Christian is “born” spiritually with a need for spiritual nourishment. If there is a lack of appetite for the things of God, there is a problem. We cannot grow without nourishment. Furthermore, we need to learn the right kind of appetite; we must develop a taste for God’s Word and sound doctrine (1 Peter 2:2, 1 Cor. 3:1-2, Hebrews 5:12-14), for righteousness (Matt. 5:6), and for intimacy with God (Psalm 63:1, John 6:35). If we do not hunger and thirst after these things, we must recognize the danger and take action to develop a healthy spiritual appetite.

ENERGY

Healthy, growing children seem to have virtually endless energy. As we age, energy levels may naturally decline, so we take action (e.g., supplements, adjusting our diets, exercise, or medical intervention) to rectify the situation. If our infant is listless and lethargic, we recognize it as problematic and contact a doctor. Nutrition and exercise (such as active play) are crucial contributors to vitality and the proper growth of a child's muscles, lungs, heart, and nervous system. Normal, healthy development shows up in increased strength and vigor.

Normal, healthy spiritual development does the same. If we are growing spiritually, it will manifest in a robust spiritual vitality. The zeal of the Lord and passion for His glory increase as we grow in Christ (John 2:17 [referring to Jesus], Titus 2:14, and the example of the entire church throughout the book of Acts). We grow in spiritual strength as we are nourished by His Word, and His Holy Spirit within us empowers and energizes us. The combination of good spiritual food and the exercise that comes by applying and obeying His Word develop our spiritual “muscles”. If we are not increasing in our spiritual strength and vigor, it is an indication that we are spiritually unhealthy and need to act to correct the problem.

WISDOM

Just as children naturally grow in stature, we expect healthy children to grow in wisdom. Cognitive development is a core aspect of health and growth. Newborns know nothing and must learn everything. If a child is not learning to think and speak and solve problems, parents grow deeply concerned. Wisdom is more than mere knowledge; it involves knowing how to apply that knowledge. Real learning is not merely an accumulation of information, but the ability to apply that information in useful ways that help us to flourish. When it is lacking, we recognize it as a developmental problem.

Similarly, if a Christian is not growing in spiritual wisdom, we must recognize that arrested development and take action. Everyone who has been spiritually reborn in Christ should be growing “in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Pet. 3:18). Wisdom and knowledge go hand in hand. We must know truth as well as what to do about that truth. We grow in knowledge through the study of God’s Word, both privately and corporately, and we grow in wisdom by submitting ourselves to that Word in obedience. If we develop a healthy spiritual appetite and exercise a healthy spiritual energy, we will find our wisdom increasing as we walk in obedience. If we are missing any of those elements, we will surely stagnate in our growth.

CHARACTER

We recognize maturity in a child, or any person, as they develop various character traits that reflect the ability to mitigate base urges, delay gratification, demonstrate self-control, and put others before themselves. We are not surprised by the toddler’s tantrum, but we discipline them to correct that urge-driven behavior. We are much more stunned by the 30-year-old businessman who does the same thing. As a person grows and matures, part and parcel of that maturing is character development.

Character development is also central to Christian maturity. Ultimately, we are developing the character and mindset of Christ. God’s will for us is our sanctification—our progressive conformation to the likeness of Christ (1 Thessalonians 4:3). This is a primary function of whatever trials we face in this life; they develop our character and perseverance so that we become mature (James 1:2-4). I do not know of a more succinct picture of Christian character than Paul’s description of the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23; Christian maturity involves continuous (though imperfect) growth in all aspects of this fruit as the Holy Spirit produces it in our lives.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

COMPETENCE

Whether child, adolescent, or adult, growth is always expressed in increased competence…mastering skills and learning to perform tasks. Children develop competence as they develop manual dexterity, learn to walk, or master potty training. Later they learn to throw a ball, use a knife and fork, dance, ride a bicycle, do household chores, or drive a car. As adults, we learn to function in society and the workplace, provide for ourselves or our families, and train others to do the same. When an individual is not developing generally recognized standards of competence, we cannot help but see that their personal or professional growth has been stunted.

This is certainly no less true in the Christian’s path to maturity. Ephesians 2:8-10 reminds believers that while we are saved by grace through faith, we are also saved for good works that God has already prepared for us to do. We were not born again to remain spiritual infants; rather, we must develop competence for works of service as we grow up into Christ (Eph. 4:11-16). Jesus pointed out in John 15:1-8 that if we abide in Him, we will be spiritually productive; conversely, if we do not bear spiritual fruit, it shows that we are disconnected from Him and judged by the Father. We are not all the same, and the Lord does expect the same productivity from every Christian, but every Christian is called to grow in competence and to actively labor for God’s Kingdom (Matt. 25:14-30).

Dear friends, I challenge each of us to examine our lives in light of God’s Word to see if we are walking worthy of the calling we have received (Eph. 4:1) and growing in grace and the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. Let us check our vital signs to monitor our own spiritual health and take appropriate action to foster our spiritual maturity. As disciples of Christ who have been made alive in Him, may we continually work out what God has put in us by His grace as we seek to reflect the reality of Christ through relationships.