Where do we stand in our relationship with God? Are we children of the faith or are we fathers or are we young adults? How do we perceive God acting in our lives? It is this group of questions that come to the surface when I read this passage from First John chapter two (from the NEB translation):
I write to you, my children, because your sins have been forgiven for his sake.
I write to you, fathers, because you know him who is and has been from the beginning.
I write to you, young men, because you have mastered the evil one.
To you, children, I have written because you know the Father.
To you, fathers, I have written because you know him who is and has been from the beginning.
To you, young men, I have written because you are strong;
God’s word is in you, and you have mastered the evil one. (Verses 12-14)
The author writes in celebration of the forgiveness of sins, which springs forth from knowledge of the heavenly Father. That is the acknowledgement of children in Christ – we have sinned but we are forgiven by God through Christ. It is the greatest reason to celebrate.
Yet, we must continue in our growth in faith. We become young adults. What does that mean for us? If we grow up in the Way of Christ Jesus, we will master the evil one. Our mastery will be due to the strength given us through the Word of God. Through God’s Word, we will conquer. There is vitality here – a vitality that we will forever miss if we cannot find a way to embrace and welcome the young adults in our midst.
Young adults – what a lovely stage in life! Yet, we do not stop growing in faith in Jesus. Young adulthood will spring forth into fatherhood or more broadly parenthood. What are the signs of being a parent?
The greatest sign of parenthood is the rock solid stability of experience. Of the three categories in the faith walk, only the parent’s statement stays the same in the two stanzas. Parents know that our God is the God who is.
God is primarily the God of the present. That is powerful – especially for people who look back on Biblical miracles and wonder why God no longer acts as the Lord did before.
Our God is a God who is. Indeed, it has been that way from the beginning. And tomorrow will be no different.
Thank God for being the One Who IS!
May we never forget that lesson as we journey into the future – knowing that God is with us, has always been with us, and will continue to be with us forever.
Enough mumbling for now…
Peace Out
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