Babes, Children, Young Men, Fathers

Babes, Children, Young Men, Fathers

“I write to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for His name’s sake.” These people were recent converts. They were born again. It is wonderful to have your sins forgiven, but the person must genuinely turn away from sin. He himself must have forgiven everyone. It is hopeful to write to such people.

“I write to you, little children, because you have known the Father.” These people were not recent converts. It takes time for a child to learn to know his father. It takes years before the child learns to know his father’s mind and care for him. “And do not seek what you should eat or what you should drink, nor have an anxious mind. For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that you need these things.” Luke 12:29-30. How many of God’s children have learned to know the Father in this way, so they are not anxious anymore?

“But He [chastens us] for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but grievous; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.” Heb. 12:10-11.

Who has learned to know the Father so well that he does not become discouraged when he is chastened, but rather rejoices over the Father’s care? This takes time; therefore it is hopeful to write to such people.

“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.” We cannot expect young men to have wisdom, and we do them an injustice if we do. These young men kept firmly to the Word; they were strong. Nothing could hinder them. They did not have to consider anything; they did not have responsibility for anything except for themselves; they did not shy away from anything. That is how it is written, and that is how it should be. They had overcome the wicked one. They were completely surrendered to God so Satan had nothing he could lay hold of in their lives. They were glorious young people. It was hopeful to write to such people.

Nevertheless, it is easy for young people to fall into a ditch, which is to look up to strength and consider wisdom as weakness. Then they will become rich and full and not be aware of their need for fathers—those who are older in Christ.

The Corinthians had fallen into this ditch. They had become rich in all things, both in knowledge and in the gifts of the Spirit, and Paul had to write to them, “You are already full! You are already rich! You have reigned as kings without us—and indeed I could wish you did reign, that we also might reign with you!” 1 Cor. 4:8. “‘For his letters,’ they say, ‘are weighty and powerful, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible.’” 2 Cor. 10:10. They admired oratorical gifts and strength, but they did not see the strength that was in the work—his conduct. V. 11. They were willing to bear anything as long as it exuded strength; they considered it weakness when Paul treated them in a good and self-sacrificial manner. 2 Cor. 11:19-21.

“So then death is working in us, but life in you.” 2 Cor. 4:12. Paul was the grain of wheat that lay in the ground, and the Corinthians were the ear that was growing up out of the ground. “For all things are for your sakes . . . .” V. 15. This is how fathers are toward their children, but the children do not understand this care. In the natural realm, children around 18-20 years old will often call their father “the old man.” Then they have become strong and clever!

It is not necessary for young people to fall into this ditch. Being strong yet at the same time honoring your fathers in Christ is quite compatible. However, it is difficult for the grains in the ear to understand the grain that is dying to give them life; but if one is humble, one naturally understands it by faith.

“I write to you, fathers, because you have known Him who is from the beginning.” John repeats this point. This was a knowledge of God that was essentially different from just knowing Him as a Father.

Often one can hear those who are married and have a growing family say, “Now I’m beginning to understand my parents.” They are beginning to understand matters from the beginning. Then they are gaining wisdom. They had prior knowledge of marriage life and how to raise children, and it may have been quite correct; but when knowledge has to be put into practice, we realize that we lack wisdom. Wisdom is revealed by the way we do things.

We must consider ourselves first if we are to become free and gain victory over sin and the wicked one. In order to come to this, we must be strong and not take heed to anything else. Everything we do at this stage is for our own sake—to be set free from sin, gain the victory, and be a servant. Later on we begin to beget children in Christ. Then we do not consider ourselves anymore, but the others, so that they might be set free, gain the victory, and become servants. Then we learn to know God who is from the beginning. We partake of the wisdom that sees through everything, and we know God’s plans and His purpose with them. It is hopeful to write to such people.

Those who are older in Christ can also fall into a ditch at this stage. When they see and hear the young ones being strong and clever, they are so afraid they might fall into the ditch into which the Corinthians had fallen that they hinder them in their development. They cannot rejoice together with the young ones when they hear them holding forth powerfully the light they have just received—as if no one had understood it before. They also fear that they themselves might be overshadowed. They do not understand how to be that grain of wheat that must vanish so that the others may become visible. Consequently, they do not become true fathers; neither do they learn to know Him who is from the beginning. This is why servants do not grow up around such people. They remain alone and great in their service. Such people remain among the “ten thousand instructors” who were also in Christ. 1 Cor. 4:15. May God grant that many might grow up to be fathers in Christ.

It is remarkable that John finds it necessary to give the following exhortation to all these splendid people: “Do not love the world or the things in the world.” This gives us an idea of the great significance of earthly things, and that we have to take this matter very seriously.