John the apostle has been sharing with us about having fellowship with God. Yesterday we saw the beginning of that relationship as it starts with the forgiveness of sins. When sins are confessed, forgiven and cleansed, a person begins his or her new life in fellowship with God. It's as though they were a new-born baby, and after some time growth begins and a person who continues in fellowship with God and His word begins to mature. Today John addresses those who are more mature in the faith as well as those who are freshly exposed. He calls them “fathers”, “young men” and “little children”.
In First John chapter two verse thirteen John writes:
I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him [that is] from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because you have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because you have known the Father.
First John addresses fathers. Those who know the God of the beginning, the Creator, and the Everlasting Father. The One who has always existed, and who is able to care for every situation.
John then writes to the young men, and notice their trait – you have overcome the wicked one. Our enemy the devil wants and desires to defeat us. Those who begin to grow in the faith find the resources for overcoming him.
Finally John writes to little children again. This time he adds that they know the Father. There is something wonderful about a small child when he or she begins to recognize his or her parents. There is maturity beginning, and the growth and development of a Christian is much the same. Recognizing who God is becomes part of the process.
The idea is that there should be growth and maturity within the Christian walk. God desires that we first come to know Him, but then we are to have a stronger and stronger relationship with Him throughout the years. He wants us to mature, have more faith, more hope, more love than we ever have experienced before. He desires that we overcome the enemy of our soul who wishes to destroy us, and that our reliance upon Him who is the strength of our relationship will grow every day.
John continues to address fathers and young men in our next verse, but we shall share together on that another time.
Until tomorrow...there is more...
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