No drive-through window or fast-food chain offers the fruit of the Spirit. Spiritual growth takes time. Jesus’ parable compared spiritual and physical development:

“First the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear.” Mark 4:28.

Just coming to Christ-apart from growing in Him-involves a process. The first step is a desire for something better. We may not even recognize this desire as having anything to do with God. We may simply desire a better car or better job or better grade point average. But God has placed within each heart a reaching out for something more.

The second step in coming to Christ is to gain a knowledge of what it is that’s better. Through the Scripture, through the testimony of other Christians, through the working of the Holy Spirit upon the heart, we learn of the plan of salvation, God’s answer to the emptiness of the human heart.

The third step in coming to Christ is the conviction that we are sinners. We are convicted of our condition-not merely of our sinful behavior. As we gain a knowledge of God’s love, we realize how little we have valued it. We recognize that we have lived independently of Him. We see our desperate condition and realize our need of His salvation.

The fourth step in coming to Christ is the realization that we are helpless to do anything at all about our condition. Young people especially may teeter for years between steps 3 and 4, recognizing that they are sinners, but not yet admitting that they cannot help themselves out of their condition.

Finally, we come to the end of our own resources. When we see our helplessness, there is only one thing left to do. Give up. It’s spelled S-U-R-R-E-N-D-E-R. As we have already noticed, we cannot bring ourselves to the point of giving up. But when God has brought us there, we ourselves make the choice to give up to Him.

Steps to Christ, page 18, describes the miracle of conversion, or the new birth:

“The Saviour said, ‘Except a man be born from above,’ unless he shall receive a new heart, new desires, purposes, and motives, leading to a new life, ‘he cannot see the kingdom of God.’ “

Don’t miss those words, “leading to a new life.” It doesn’t all happen overnight. Physical birth is a beginning. The new birth is a beginning. It is not a complete change of life and habit patterns overnight. But it is a complete change of direction.

We’ve already spent time looking at the disciples, who continued for three and a half years to struggle with some of the same problems before they finally experienced the breakthrough to victory. Jacob surrendered to God at Bethel, but it was twenty years before the crisis in his life by the brook Jabbok brought him to the end of his self-dependence. Mary came to Jesus seven times, seeking His prayers in her behalf to cast out the demons that controlled her life. It took time for her to understand how to stay surrendered to Him all of the time.

But for all of these, there was a common denominator. They were now seeking fellowship with Jesus instead of running from Him. Their direction had changed. They had a new capacity for knowing and loving God. Their attitude toward God had changed.

And as they continued to seek Jesus, the process of growth and maturity did its work, and their lives were transformed.

The Ministry of Healing, page 454, tells us,

“The precious graces of the Holy Spirit are not developed in a moment. Courage, fortitude, meekness, faith, unwavering trust in God’s power to save, are acquired by the experience of years.”

We will study more on the subject of temptation under Theses 80 to 84. But for now, notice just this much: Where does yielding to temptation begin?

“Yielding to temptation begins in permitting the mind to waver, to be inconstant in your trust in god.” - Thoughts From the Mount of Blessing, p. 92.

And how long does it take to have unwavering trust in God? It doesn’t happen overnight. It takes time.

Have you given yourself to God? Do you continue to come to Him day by day in fellowship and communion? And do you still find yourself inconstant in your trust in Him? Welcome to the club.

Your new heart is leading to a new life. Are you willing to keep coming to Him, even if you find yourself slow in learning the lessons He would teach you? Are you willing to give God time?