Abram was to grow. But it was not the personal growth, as most people understand it today, namely a form of study, an acquisition of some know-how, of new information. Here we are very different from ancient people. When the Enlightenment came and with it the rapid development of knowledge and science, people sought universal truths about the world in which we live. Knowledge was to be free from misunderstandings and prejudices as far as possible, an unencumbered view of reality was sought, only verifiable facts were important. At that time, science started to oppose religion, which - from its point of view - does not work primarily with facts, but with beliefs, and also requires that newly found knowledge fit into a given thought pattern. Over time, therefore, most scientists have rejected religion as a non-scientific phenomenon.

If we did not have personal experience with God and our faith was based only on conviction, arguments, it would be a very weak and fickle thing. Not that there are no rational arguments for faith, but they are usually not enough to seize a person's heart, so that it is willing to withstand all problems, no matter what it costs. If our faith were only a matter of conviction, we would be similar to Jehovah's Witnesses and churches of the sort, which need to teach their members constantly (i.e. give them a steady stream of thought arguments) to persevere in the so-called faith. In reality, however, this is not faith, but opinion. Its core lies not in the heart, but in mind.

We must therefore experience what Abram did already at his time and what the apostle Paul cared for "...so that your faith may not be based on human wisdom, but on the power of God" (1 Cor 2:5). Only a personal encounter will move us beyond limits of our rationality, where God dwells from a human point of view (namely, in the "spiritual realm"). Then we are surprised to find that God does not try to prove to us that he is scientifically OK. We experience His presence as something from another world, from which His power enters into our one and communicates with us ("revelation" comes).

God did not rewarded anyone with an acceptance because he had the right opinions. However, he accepted a number of people who had incorrect opinions in some ways, but otherwise correct attitudes (heart). That is why He worked on the inner transformation of Abram, and He will do it with each one of us so that His kingdom may grow in our lives and bear precious fruit for eternity... so that we reflect more and more of God Himself.