God's career track

Romans 8:28-30 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.   There is a pipeline that we parents like to see our children travel through as they progress from childhood to independent adult living.  We follow growth from infancy, toddling, preschool, elementary through high school and then college or vocational education and on to successful jobs, marriages and new families.  We take encouragement as our children move from rung to rung, just as we did when they climbed the rungs of the jungle gym in the school playground.  This morning it occurred to me that the Lord has a pipeline for our progress as well.  Instead of preparing us to mature from physical infancy to adult independence, though, He is taking us through progressive awareness of Himself, conforming us to the image of His Son and ultimately presenting us complete in the Heavenly realm.  We have the sure sense that just as our children need the continual help of parents, friends and teachers to mature so we need an ongoing relationship with our living Lord to mature spiritually.  There is great comfort in knowing that there is One with a trustworthy plan to find us, to save us and to make us new in a program that results in successful eternal living.  It's good to know that our Heavenly Father is watching over us as we move from rung to rung, ready to catch us if we slip!   blessings, Rob Smith