Growth is essential to life. Throughout the years I have heard countless people say that the only way to grow is to be willing to change. Change has become the contemporary buzzword and measurement of growth. This is very dangerous. Just because a man is changing does not mean he is growing – he may be going backwards! On the other hand, true growth is only possible when one is rooted in those things that never change.

In life and ministry the goal must be God and not growth. Remember that it was our God who said, “I am the LORD, I change not” (Malachi 3:6). His standard is not current trends or acceptable methods, His standard is the truth explained in His Word. Change is not God’s word. His word is transform. He transforms us by the renewing of our mind (Romans 12:2). Men change. He transforms.

Our day is a day of much drift and change in the culture. Sadly, it is more and more evident in Christians and churches. If change is the model and culture is the standard we will never become what God Himself has called us to be.

In Philippians 3:14 Paul wrote, “I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” The life of a growing Christian is the unending pursuit of Christ. In the two verses that follow we are given two principles for what this is to look like:

• What we must do: “Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you” (Philippians 3:15). Stay teachable, open, yielded, willing for God to show you any thing that needs to be transformed in you!
• What we must not do: “Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing” (Philippians 3:16). Stay fixed, settled, unchanging, refusing to lose the ground you have already gained!

Don’t retreat while you are trying to advance. So many begin to chase some new idea while giving up the very truth that has brought them this far. While there may be the short-term appearance of growth it is often short-sighted. You are not gaining if you are giving up what you already had.

There is great pressure today to change or “conform” to what others are doing. “My son, fear thou the Lord and the king: and meddle not with them that are given to change” (Proverbs 24:21). Stay rooted in God and close to those who are not looking for novelty.

Some pride themselves on being “old school” while others boast of being “cutting edge.” We all should desire to be connected to that which is “eternal”! Truth is timeless – “his truth endureth to all generations” (Psalm 100:5).

By God’s grace I want to keep growing, but not changing.