(By Kelly Wright)
* Kelly serves as the Junior High pastor here at Grace Community Church.
“What has four legs in the morning, two legs in the afternoon, and three legs in the evening?”
This seemingly harmless riddle cost many travelers their lives. The sphinx was said to have stood guard at the entrance of the city of Thebes. It would challenge travelers with this riddle and take their life if they did not answer correctly. According to Greek mythology, the riddle was answered by Oedipus and the sphinx destroyed itself.
This riddle provides a pattern of physical maturity for man. In the ‘morning’ of a baby’s life they crawl on all fours. In the ‘afternoon’ of an adult’s life they walk on two legs. In the ‘evening’ of an elderly person’s life they walk with the aid of a cane. With only some exception, man has consistently followed this pattern of physical maturity. Getting older is a way of life.
Scripture provides a pattern of spiritual maturity for those who are God’s children. It provides a picture of what should be expected spiritually as we are matured by God’s grace. First John 2:12-14 provides the following picture:
[12] I am writing to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven for his name’s sake.
[13] I am writing to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning.
I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one.
I write to you, children, because you know the Father.
[14] I write to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning.
I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one.
John addresses three different spiritual ‘age groups’ in the congregations of the churches to which he wrote: “children, young men, fathers.” These spiritual age groups provide for us guidance as to what can be and should be expected of God’s children. If you have experienced the new birth and become a child of God then you can expect to progress from a spiritual child to a spiritual father.
The intent of this passage was to strengthen the assurance of John’s readers. If his readers could see themselves in the pattern provided then they could be assured of God’s grace in their life. If they could not find themselves in the pattern then there was reason to doubt their salvation. Let’s briefly take a look at these different age groups and see if whether we are in God’s family and what we can anticipate as God matures us.
John introduces the spiritual age groups by first designating all who are of God’s family with the title: LITTLE CHILDREN. John says that all who are Christians have had their sins forgiven. Everyone who is a part of God’s family and is in the process of maturing spiritually began here. We learned from Scripture that “God is light, and in his is no darkness at all” (1:5). We also learned that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom 3:23). Sin and holiness cannot mix. Those with sin cannot be with God who is without sin. Thankfully, God has provided forgiveness through His Son Jesus Christ to anyone who confesses their sins (1:9). Once they have repented they can know that they are a part of God’s family and thus a ‘little child.’
The first spiritual age group is designated by the title: CHILDREN. John says that they know the Father (v. 13). What a glorious truth to know that having once been a child of wrath we are now a child of God. John writes in 3:1, “See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are.” Adoption becomes a sweet reality to those whose sins are forgiven.
Someone who is new to God’s family is very aware of their new relationship with God as their Father. There is a sense of awe and wonder at the new birth they have received.
The second spiritual age group is designated by the title: YOUNG MEN. John says of this group that they are strong, the word of God abides in them, and they have overcome the evil one (vv. 13, 14).
The young men of the faith are those who are spiritually stable and firm in their convictions, no longer being tossed to and fro like those described in Eph 4:14. This is possible because they have immersed themselves in the word of God (Col 3:16). John states that it abides in them. They are hungry to know the word and have done due diligence to learn it. They know what the bible says and are convinced of its truth. They are doctrinally sound.
They are also known to be victorious over the evil one. Their knowledge of scripture has equipped them to stand against Satan’s schemes. They are not deceived into believing false religions nor are they persuaded to live a life-style of sin. They have matured from children to young men.
The last spiritual group described by John is designated by the title FATHERS. It is simply said that they “know him who is from the beginning” (vv. 13, 14). Their knowledge of God is deep and personal. They not only know the word of God but they know the God wrote it. They are known for the God they fear and not only the knowledge they possess.
These are the spiritual age groups that one can expect in God’s family. Each of us who have been born again are in the process of maturing. Where are you? Are you a child of God? Do you know the Father? Are you a young man who is saturated in the word of God, defending truth, living victoriously? Have you matured to the point of being a father who knows God intimately? May God help us be known for our affection for the “one who is from the beginning.”