Training Wheels

A set of twins are beaming with joy and excitement over a Christmas gift they received. Each has a shiny new bike. The young girl’s bike is purple and the boy’s is blue. The carefully chosen bicycles were given by loving parents. Both bikes have come complete with a set of training wheels. These novice bike riders will have the safety and guidance of these little wheels as they learn to navigate their new gift.

Attempting to learn to ride a bicycle without training wheels can be extremely difficult for a young child. (It can be difficult for someone of any age, for that matter.) The small, guiding wheels provide balance for the bicycle when the child has not yet learned to balance on their own. Teetering from the left and then to the right the young, inexperienced rider would experience many falls complete with scrapes, bruises and possibly broken bones. These training wheels, which are only a fraction the size of the bicycle’s regular wheels, will provide much-needed safety and protection until the day these young twins have developed the skill and balance to ride the bike without assistance.

In many ways our salvation is much like these shiny new bicycles. Salvation is a wonderful gift given by our loving Heavenly Father. “For it is by free grace (God's unmerited favor) that you are saved (delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ's salvation) through [your] faith. And this [salvation] is not of yourselves [of your own doing, it came not through your own striving], but it is the gift of God;” (Ephesians 2:8 AMP) Although eternal life includes everlasting life in heaven, the fullness of this life here on earth looks a little different for each child of God. Both children received shiny new bicycles, yet the colors were unique to each child’s preference and personality. Each of God’s children receive a life specifically designed for him/her.

As young Christians we also received a set of “training wheels” to begin our lifelong walk with God. These training wheels of the law were first given by God to the nation of Israel. The apostle Paul wrote, “So that the Law served [to us Jews] as our trainer [our guardian, our guide to Christ, to lead us] until Christ [came], that we might be justified (declared righteous, put in right standing with God) by and through faith.” (Galatians 3:24 AMP) Following precepts of the 10 Commandments is wise for all. A young Christian may obey these tenants simply as rules or a code of behavior that is fitting for a new walk with Jesus Christ.

As one grows in knowledge of the Word of God and a greater ability to hear the voice of the Holy Spirit, the wisdom and benefits of obedience to biblical principles becomes internalized. Living as Scripture instructs us to live is no longer for the purpose of obeying rules and avoiding punishment or slip-ups. This God driven lifestyle is followed out of a desire to please our Father and express our love to Him and others. Jesus stated, “I give you a new commandment: that you should love one another. Just as I have loved you, so you too should love one another.” (John 13:34 AMP) This is no longer a set of rules but an attitude of heart. This heart attitude is also described by what Jesus referred to as greatest commandment. “And He replied to him, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind (intellect). This is the great (most important, principal) and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as [you do] yourself. These two commandments sum up and upon them depend all the Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 22:37-40 AMP)

Grown up salvation is lived not through rules, but from a heart that grows more like the heart of God every day. “And we know (understand, recognize, are conscious of, by observation and by experience) and believe (adhere to and put faith in and rely on) the love God cherishes for us. God is love, and he who dwells and continues in love dwells and continues in God, and God dwells and continues in him.” (1 John 4:16 AMP) Since God is love, we must grow in love as we grow in Him.

As we grow in the Lord we must take the spiritual training wheels off. We do not love and serve by obligation, but we internalize the nature of God into every area of our life. We can soar with God when we are motivated by His love and leadership. “When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; now that I have become a man, I am done with childish ways and have put them aside.” (1 Corinthians 13:11 AMP). Maturity follows the way of God like love.

Always be grateful for the instruction of your (spiritual) parents in the rules that are presented in Scripture. These stabilize us as we begin our adventure with Jesus. Know when to take the training wheels off and live a godly life based on love and a desire to serve our Heavenly Father.