I was reading strong delusion this morning, and found this paragraph by Mike enlightening. I often get stuck into the thinking that only the extreme spiritually mature/perfect will be in the first resurrection. But according to this, it is not how mature we are, it is what we do with what we've been given.
Mike writes:
Now, let us suppose that all who read this paper, fully realize the absolute necessity of 'leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ and going on unto maturity.'
How then, now, are we to perceive our brothers and sisters who may not have this knowledge.
Are those who are aware of the pit of chronic spiritual immaturity the only ones who will be in the first resurrection? No, God is not the least bit impressed with the degree of our maturity, nor with the depth of our understanding or knowledge.
In fact there are several scriptures which indicate that knowledge tends to become a curse to most who have it. For example, Paul was given a thorn in the flesh...lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations (II Cor. 12:7).
And he also gives us this warning: Knowledge puffeth up, but charity [love] edifieth (I Core. 8:5).
You see, God is love, so that is what we must become.
Mat 25:15 tells us: And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability.
So a spiritually mature Christian never exalts himself over others. He realizes that any 'talent' that he has, was given to him of God.
But this parable goes on to demonstrate that God does not judge us so much by how much we produce.
God judges us by what we do with what we have been given. If we are mature, it will be of God. If we are called at the eleventh hour, and are not as mature as others, rest assured,God knows what we have done with what we have been given.
My eleven year old son so much wants to be a good Christian. Last night he was talking to me about how it bothers him that so many of his friends at school cuss. He prays every night before bed for God to forgive him for his sins he did that day. It gives me such joy to see him desire from his heart to do what Jesus wants him to do, even in his limited understanding.