Jesus used many examples to show us how nature itself should teach us some obvious things. We are well aware of the physical age of those around us; but we do not seem to realize that we also have a spiritual age which sometimes has no correlation at all with the time that we’ve spent warming church pews. No parent would find their 30 year old child is still having his bottle or wearing diapers; and God also expects His children to finally become sons and daughters worthy of Him. The Lord wants to take us higher; He has important stuff to tell us but as in the days of old, He is often has to note that we just cannot bear them (Jn 16:12).
During the next few weeks, using John’s first letter in which he addresses three types of Christians (little children, young men and fathers), we will be highlighting the main characteristics of each age group to help us appreciate where we are in our walk with Christ individually.
Infancy and Childhood
1. The baby
Apart from relieving themselves, babies can do nothing on their own and need constant care and attention. Whenever they want something, they cry or shout. They love cuddles and only feel reassured in their mother’s arms. The only food their digestive system can take in for months is milk; give them fish and chips and you might kill them. Spiritually speaking, these are usually new converts. They don’t know how to pray, fast or read the Bible without guidance and they don’t understand the ‘Pentecostal-charismatical-christian’ jargon. Sadly, many who are supposed to be adults in Christ still gallivant in church in their nappies...
2. The child
This stage is mainly characterized by the followings:
· The need of a tutor or guardian without whom the child could well die. He cannot take care of himself. He needs to be constantly told what to do or not to do because he cannot tell good from evil. He also needs frequent discipline. My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin (1Jn 2:1). It’s the age of beacons and railings. This is the one who has been coming to church for ages, has heard hundreds of messages, but still doesn’t know how to put all that knowledge into practice.
· Selfishness or the age of “give me”, “give me”, “give me”, “I want”, “I want”, “I want” prayers. The child only minds what others must do for him and seldomly what he can do for them. He walks in the church as if in a hotel: to be served and not to serve.
· Impatience or fast-food age; God has to answer in a twinkling of an eye. This Christian cannot persevere in prayer and fasting for weeks or months without grumbling, waiting for God to speak. After a few ‘minutes’, they will proceed with their plans.
· Dissatisfaction: the child’s eyes are often bigger than their tummy and they always want more. Moreover, they quickly get tired of what they have so fervently desired: this is the age of whims.
· Irresponsibility: they get loose when the parents are not around and always try to cover or justify their faults: “It’s because of so-so that I…” They are only Christians on Sundays and are very happy to live double life as long as they are not caught: it’s the age of masks. They hardly realize that the Lord always sees and even when they do, it’s not a big deal because they think they’ll find something to calm Him down: “I first sin, and then I confess.” Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth (1Jn 3:18).
· The flesh whose works rule in them: grudges, envy, jealousy, disputes, cruelty, lies… And now, little children, abide in him (1Jn 2:28).
· Fear: they are terrified by every little thing. This is a Christian who is afraid of demons, witches, ennemies, sickness, death, lack etc.; and whose prayers are frequently imprecatory or begging for protection. Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. (1Jn 4:4)
· Naivety: a child is ignorant, unstable, twists the Scriptures and is easily tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine because he tends to believe that grass is greener elsewhere. Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore we know that it is the last hour… Little children, let no one deceive you … (1Jn 2:18, 3:7)
· The love of entertainment: a child comes to church to have fun. He doesn’t come for God but for pals. Besides, his internet telephone is never far away; so he can quickly run to other friends on Facebook, Twitter or else when he is bored (like during the message, when he has to stop grooving for a little while). Little children, keep yourselves from idols (1Jn 5:21).
The rare occasions when we are actually encouraged to be like children in the Bible are these: “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven”, "Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven" and, "Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation." (Mat18:3, 19:14; 1Pe 2:2) Why? Because the Lord of heaven and earth has hidden certain things and mysteries from the wise and understanding but has revealed them to little children (Mat 11:25).
Do you fit any of these descriptions? The will of God for you is that you may grow and go to the next stage.
God bless you.
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