Unto Full Stature - Introduction

This is the Introduction from the book Unto Full Stature by Devern Fromke.

Moving unto full stature! What glorious anticipation that the Father might see the fullness of His Son in us and be satisfied. The reader will rejoice, as I have, in the author’s emphasis that there is a much greater measure of spiritual stature attainable now than we have usually dared to imagine.

There is a noticeable awakening everywhere among believers that the central issue in Christianity has more to do with developing character and spiritual stature than in merely going some place in the “sweet by and by.” To be occupied with “going some place” —namely heaven—leaves us so far short of God’s high calling to full stature.

I am delighted to write the introduction for it affords me an opportunity to emphasize certain aspects I consider most vital, and it also allows me an opportunity to prepare the reader’s mind so he will be fully alert to appreciate certain imperative issues as they are mentioned. Accordingly, may I call to your attention:

This Full Stature is no mere self-seeking effort in attainment. The author rightly insists that we only take our first real steps toward full stature as we become alive unto God and the honor, glory, pleasure and satisfaction He will realize through our lives. As he has done in his other writings, it might be expected that he would disclose the necessity of a God-centered instead of a man-centered approach. How wonderful to be centered in “what we can be unto God” instead of “what He can do for us.”

This full stature is not merely some distant hope to be realized, but is a very present reality. One of the most evident marks of immaturity in our day is the tendency to relegate spiritual reality to the past or to the future. How significant then, that from the opening preview of this book, the author should insist upon projecting the reader into that glorious present tense of living in reality now. Once the reader is “caught” with the impact of this glorious participation in the life of the Spirit, he will never be satisfied to return to the barren pathways of living in past experiences or the dreamy hopes of the future. Be sure to catch the full impact as the author emphasizes that ours should be a continuous living relationship with Christ. It is true we have received His life in our birth from above, but we are to be forever receiving more and more of His life.

This full stature is not something achieved apart from Christ. Quite rightly the central thesis of the book is that the Eternal Father, who delights in His only begotten Son, has determined to have a vast family of sons who reflect that same full stature the Father beholds in Him. We need only look at the Lord Jesus to understand the Father’s highest conception of Full Stature. Christ is the sum-total. Yet to realize that the Father has such an expectation of full stature in us could leave us in despair and discouraged if we did not know that He has also provided the Holy Spirit as the utterly Adequate One who will accomplish this full stature in us if we will but let Him. How uniquely it is the Holy Spirit’s work to reveal the Lord Jesus to us so as to form Christ in us in order to manifest Christ through us.

This full stature is both an individual and corporate matter. In his closing chapters the author faces our greatest problem squarely. Too many of God’s children become so enamored with their own individual stature and (perhaps quite willingly) sidestep the necessary interdependence of the various members in bringing each other to full spiritual stature. Actually there is no such thing as individual full stature. How arresting is the thought that “our full stature is quite dependent upon the full stature of other members in the body of Christ.” No man liveth unto himself.

Finally, there are no facile answers here, because Mr. Fromke has not intended to give pat answers which are really none at all. Instead he has sought to stimulate the thinking. Perhaps at times to even irritate one out of the staid rut of traditional thinking. This is no book for the superficial, but for those who are prepared to use their minds and hearts it may well give some fresh glimpse into the vast purpose and intention of the Father in bringing many sons unto the glory of full stature. --Wayne Butchart