Little Children, Fathers, and Young Men (1 John 2:13b-14)

“I write to you, little children,

Because you have known the Father.

I have written to you, fathers,

Because you have known Him who is from the beginning.

I have written to you, young men,

Because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you,

And you have overcome the wicked one.” (1 John 2:13b-14 NKJV)

John described the result of growth for each stage in his letter of 1 John Chapter 2 Verses 12 and 13a. Now he explains the progress to reach to the goal, say, how. These three stages of Christian growth are not chronological order nor by age. It could be possible for young men to be spiritually fathers and for old men to be spiritually little children.

The stage of new born Christian is called little children whose sins are forgiven. How were they forgiven their sins? It happened through knowing the Father who sent the Son Jesus Christ as the ransom sacrifice. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16 NKJV)

Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6). There is no other way to come to the Father except through the truth of life, Jesus Christ the Lord. No matter what kind of man you are, no matter what kind of position you have, no matter how you look like, no matter how much you have, coming to God is only one way which is through the blood of Christ Jesus.

Many a people may and surely will raise a question why there is only one way to come to know the ultimate reality of life. The answer is that we are made so. We humans are not here at random but put on purpose by someone who is the Creator God. It is obvious that a new born baby cannot survive all by himself. He needs 24/7 intensive care up to certain age. Likewise, we cannot survive without God and His intensive care upon humanity and the universe.

There is a Father who cares for everything He made with tender and gentle love and kindness. He makes sun rise every day and sends rain on everybody (Matthew 5:45). He stops proud sea waves at the shore (Job 38:11). He feeds the birds of the air (Matthew 6:26). He clothes the grass of the field (Matthew 6:30). He stores snow and hail in the treasury (Job 38:22). God created all things and put in order and command just as He made so, upholding all things by the word of His power (Colossians 1:16-17, Hebrews 1:3).

Most of all, God is not only interested in our physical wellbeing but in our spiritual need. He promised to send the Savior and fulfilled in due time that anyone who comes to Him shall receive eternal life by faith. It may take a while to come to know the Father God. Everyone is differently coming to the Father God, some through friends, difficulties, diseases, failures, or tragedies. But one thing is sure that it is the time for anyone to come unto the Lord Jesus Christ and receive Him. It is the year of the Lord’s grace and mercy.

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me,

Because He has anointed Me

To preach the gospel to the poor;

He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,

To proclaim liberty to the captives

And recovery of sight to the blind,

To set at liberty those who are oppressed;

To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.”

Then He closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him. And He began to say to them, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” (Luke 4:18-21 NKJV)

The mature stage of Christian growth is fathers and the result and progress are exactly the same. The mature have known the Father who is from the beginning. The mature Christians know how to handle lives because they know the Father in heaven who runs and controls everything, visible and invisible, big and small, under His sovereign rule and authority.

Lastly, young men are the ones who overcome the wicked one. They are the veterans of the good fight. How do they overcome the wicked one? They win the battle against the devil by being strong in the Lord, but never in themselves. “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.” (Ephesians 6:10) The tested Christians are strong in the Lord Jesus Christ who continually empowers and strengthens the children of God. Young men never boast of their skills and experience but completely and totally depend on the Lord of the battle.

What does young men make strong in the Lord? It is the word of God. So, they keep on digging in the word of truth day and night (Psalm 1:2). They continually let the word of God abide in them in good and difficult times and seasons. It means that they abide in the love of God by keeping the commandments of the Lord.

“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples. As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.” (John 15:5-10 NKJV)

Strength and might come from the Father in heaven, never from the earth below, the flesh. The battle is not against flesh and blood but against the prince of dark world, the evil ones (Ephesians 6:12). And the fight is not ours but the Lord’s. God fights for His name’s sake. He is the supreme commander in chief and we are His earthen vessels for His glory.