In the realm of worldly pursuits, growth is deemed paramount, with fortunes and reputations hinging on the constant increase of revenue and assets. Yet, in matters of faith, the emphasis shifts profoundly to personal growth, focusing on the development of character rather than wealth or status. God desires overcoming, a growth measured against a divine standard, not the unrestrained numeric expansion of His church. The Father Himself restricts the number of those who can come to the Son, mirroring the limits seen in physical creation where every species has boundaries to its size, defined by its inherent design. Similarly, God's church, that spiritual organism, operates within bounds set by the Creator. True growth, in His eyes, is not about swelling numbers or income, but about individual transformation into His character image, with limits set at the highest divine level. Church size and income remain under God's sovereignty, sufficient for the work He assigns, while His primary concern remains our personal spiritual development.

In the vision of the New Eden, growth is a central theme, characterized by abundance and an expanding population of both animals and people, as God restores the earth to a state akin to Eden. This growth, promised to be accompanied by prosperity rather than poverty, reflects God's command from Genesis to be fruitful, multiply, and replenish the earth. The fertility and abundance of creation, evident in the earliest commands to mankind, will define this restored world, where population growth is seen as a blessing resulting from obedience to God's will. God will facilitate this growth by transforming the planet's landscape, increasing its carrying capacity through actions such as flattening mountains, raising valleys, creating rivers, and restoring desolate lands for cultivation. These changes will ensure that the earth can support a burgeoning population in prosperity, providing space and resources as needed. Even as the land fills and population pressures emerge, God has already prepared solutions, hearing the cries for more space before they are uttered and acting to meet those needs. The growth will intensify in the White Throne period, marked by a significant population explosion following the second resurrection. This vast increase will demand more than just arable land and favorable climates; it will require advanced systems of distribution, communication, and power, developed through a cooperative effort between the God Family and the family of man. Human technology, left to its own devices, falls short, but under God's guidance, it will be directed to support this growth effectively. Opportunities for the young to contribute to this growth are immense, spanning fields like architecture, engineering, transportation, oceanography, cartography, chemistry, physics, biology, education, and medicine. These roles will be crucial in building and sustaining the New Eden, requiring preparation, education, and a collaborative spirit to harness the potential of this abundant future. Growth in this context is not merely numerical but encompasses the development of a prosperous, interconnected world under God's design, where every individual has a part to play in realizing this vision.

God's idea of growth is a gradual process, achieved little by little, as we conquer enemies such as satan, the world, and our own human nature with His help, until we come into our inheritance, the Kingdom of God. Christ compared His Father's Kingdom to a mustard seed, smaller than all seeds on earth, yet it grows up to become greater than all herbs. God values growth highly, as shown in the Parable of the Talents, where He praises the servants who doubled their talents with a 100 percent increase, while deeming the servant who failed to grow as wicked, lazy, and unprofitable. God expects growth from all of us. He has given us a great potential that is currently too big for us, beyond our imagination or ability to handle the power we will have later. Yet, if we patiently grow, in time the Kingdom will fit us perfectly, and we will feel at home there.

Jesus Christ, as the Head of the church, is the source from which the Body grows with the increase that God provides. This growth is not merely numeric but pertains to faith, character, understanding, and the image of the Father and the Son. His role as the Creator of the universe is inseparable from His position as the Head, exercising the same power in His spiritual creation as in the physical, with the spiritual creation destined to be far greater than the material. He sustains and guides our spiritual growth into His image, managing every aspect of our lives and interactions to foster development, even in the worst circumstances. As the Potter, He shapes us, the clay, into His workmanship, for we cannot create ourselves into His image, lacking both the ability and the complete vision of the end result. Yet, as long as we remain in Him, responding in faith, obeying, and trusting Him with our lives, our spiritual growth will continue. If we seek Him, He will reveal glimpses of the spiritual creation unfolding in our lives and in the lives of others.