Growing Up

May 8

Read: 1 John 2:12-14

Growing Up

In John 3, Jesus uses the imagery of a child being born to describe to Nicodemus what it looks like to enter the Kingdom of God - “you must be born again”. (cf. John 3:3) Throughout the scriptures, this metaphor carries on. Paul calls Christ followers to go from feeding on milk like little babies to eating solid food more like adults. (cf. 1 Cor. 3:2) Our spiritual journey is very much like our natural progression through birth, childhood, growing up, and maturing. There are many different “stops” along the way. Sometimes our spiritual journey matches our physical journey. (ie. We come to Christ as children and we are both physically and spiritually maturing at the same rate.) Sometimes there are those who don’t come to Christ until much later in life. This can be odd because you are simultaneously a “mature person” but you are a spiritual “newborn” - having to surrender to a maturing process in the spiritual realm that you have long put behind you in the physical realm. When we can see where we are on the spiritual journey, we have a better picture of what Christ is calling us to do. 1 John uses a somewhat odd little series of verses to do just that for us here:

When you are “little children”…

God draws you to himself and simply calls you to this new reality that “your sins are forgiven for his name's sake”. (v.12) God has done this for HIS fame and glory (for “his name’s sake). There is nothing that you need to do but rest in his mercy and forgiveness. Experience that love. This is the beginning of life in Christ.

When you are “children”…

You are called to “know the Father”. (v.13b) If “little children” are simply called to rest in the forgiveness of sins through Jesus, then as one goes from being a baby to being a child they begin to grow in KNOWLEDGE of the Father while still resting in the forgiveness brought by the son. There is a time where we go from simply resting and receiving to KNOWING more about the Father. This is our “job” as “children” in Christ.

When you are a “young person” / “young man” …

As you mature and grow in faith, you enter into a stage of true strength and vigor. You are described here as the ones who are “strong” (v.14) Your strength is not without its purpose: those who have just entered maturity - gone from being children to being young men and women - are to use that strength and vitality to “overcome the evil one”. This is a fight that not only takes place personally within one’s self, but also corporately out in the real world and on behalf of others. In short - young men and young women in faith fight against and overcome the evil one with their God given strength and energy. The little children, children, and older spiritual fathers (and mothers) need those young in faith to FIGHT and overcome. We have all been around believers that are in this stage of their journey and it is ENERGIZING for everyone around them! What a blessing. It is at this stage that the knowledge gained in spiritual “childhood” is taking root. The end result: “the word of God abides in you”. You have God’s word living in you!

When you are a “mature” follower of Christ / A “spiritual father” or “spiritual mother”…

There is a time when you pass out of your “young years” of spiritual growth. You still participate in all the other “stages” of spiritual growth - your sins are forgiven, you know the Father, the word abides in you, you have a spiritual strength, you have fought and overcome the evil one in your youth and continue to do so - and yet there is more work to be done. The “father” or “mother” is called to “know him who is from the beginning.” God in three persons has existed from the beginning. Jesus has been working from the dawn of creation to call a people to himself. The Holy Spirit hovered over the waters of creation at the dawn of time. God the Father has been creating and loving from the get go. “Fathers'' and “mothers” are called to have a “big picture” view of what God is doing. In our maturity we see how our small stories and timelines tie into something bigger that has been going on “from the beginning”. The spiritually mature have been given eyes to see how these all tie together. We are more like generals behind the lines supporting and developing strategy than we are front line foot soldiers in the war. This is not to say the spiritually older and more mature don’t participate or “work” at all… just to say we are called to focus on “knowing the one who was from the beginning”… that “one” who is God.

There is a building and progression in the spiritual journey. Where are you today? Where are you in your spiritual life as well as you physical life? Are you at your “peak” with strength and energy to fight ? Then fight! With the “word of God abiding in you”, overcome the evil one in you and in the world. Are you a brand new believer? Then rest in the love and forgiveness of Jesus, but get ready to enter into “childhood” and begin to seek knowledge of the Father through his word. Are you a spiritual father or mother… maybe even a “grandparent”? (In the ancient world, when they spoke of their “fathers” it included what we would call “grandfathers'') Are you using the big picture wisdom that God has entrusted to you because you can see how all things are tying into the larger story that God has unfolded from the beginning? As a spiritual grandparent, your strength is a different kind of strength that comes from having spent so much time walking with the Lord. You have the responsibility to care for and oversee little children, children, and young men and women alike! This is an ongoing process. Wherever you are on the journey - be strengthened and encouraged by the Lord. Love you guys. - JDP