There is no Scripture that warrants such a conclusion. Time is required
for the development of the Christian. He must first repent; that is to
say, become displeased with the wrongful course of the world, change
his own course and seek the Lord. He must become converted, turn away
from a wrongful course and turn to the Lord. He must be drawn to the
Lord Jesus, make a full consecration, be accepted of the Lord, presented
to the Father, justified, and begotten of the holy spirit, before he
becomes a new creature; and from that time forward he must develop. He
must have the opportunity to pass through, and must pass through, many
experiences and by these experiences learn the lessons that God desires
the members of the new creation to learn.
[480]A boy or a girl in school who is being trained for a special
purpose is required to have some hard mental exercise in order to
develop the mind. For this reason many mathematical problems are
required of the pupil; and other lessons are required to develop the
mental faculties. One who is training for a race or other physical
contest is required to have some strenuous experiences. With stronger
reasoning are these principles true relative to the members of the new
creation. These are being trained for the high and exalted position of
membership in the royal family of heaven. Hence we may not be surprised
to find often that their training is quite severe.
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