To the Spiritual Fathers

* To the spiritual fathers/mothers in my own life, no matter their age; and to those dear ones of mine who are older, yet not yet spiritual fathers/mothers.

“I am writing to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning… I write to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning” (1 John 2:13a, 14a).

Fathers… the spiritually mature. They have a few nicks in their belts of spiritual battles won, and a few nicks in their souls from battles fought. Knees ache and creak from the many prayer burdens. Their hands creased from having cupped many hands in needed comfort. They have journeyed, loved, fought.

John, one spiritual father, bends over a papyrus, burdened with his love for these other spiritual fathers. He has been vigilantly expressing his concern, warning against false teachers. Pausing, he digresses to give them comfort. Their hearts, too, will be burdened. “Be aware of these false teachers, but I am sure that can snatch you out of the Shepherd’s hand. I know that he who was born of God protects you, and the evil one does not touch you. I am writing to you…”(John 10:28-29; 1 John 5:18). And here the old apostle’s hand pauses in remembrance: he has loved these men, walked with them, prayed for them, encouraged them. He has seen their persecution, their struggles, their weariness as well as their encouragement, their growth as well as their falls, their victories as well as their falls. “…to you, fathers…." Who like me have journeyed. But, oh, I long for you to deepen that journey, to grow in the knowledge of him who is true, to stand firm, to obey, to grow in love, to overcome by faith, to have fellowship, deeper joy in him (1 John 1:3-4; 2:5; 2:10; 3:13; 5:4-5).

To have fellowship and joy in him (1 John 1:3).... The apostle begins writing again. “…because you have known him who is from the beginning….”

Him who is from the beginning….. The unchanging, eternal God. In all the struggles, the changes, the ups and downs of life, he is unchanging. You know many people, you carry many burdens. You are concerned for many other people: for loved ones as you grow older and what may happen to them; for others attracted by the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and the pride of life (1 John 2:16); for those lured by the false teachers. You have fleeting worries for your own future, as knees and memories fail. But he is unchanging. God’s faithfulness will still be with you, in persecution, fear, physical failures, and more.

Because you know him….. You know the joys of his fellowship. You know him—know, more than just intellectual assent, but as you have journeyed through this life, you have come to have fellowship with him (1 John 1:3). Deep cries to deep.  This, my friends, the apostle muses, is the true content of life—to know the only true God and his Son Jesus (John 17:3). Life—oh, my friends, you have been attacked by the world, wearied by the world. You see how fading it is, like a mist. Yet, this, this, is life, to know him. Our bodies may grow weary, our hair may season white, our souls and bones may both groan, but we are just on a journey into more and more life.

Because God is the unchanging God, you live in eternity right now. Now. To know him, this is life. It is the love that is better than this physical life (Ps. 63:3). This, my beloved spiritual fathers, is the meaning of eternal life (John 17:3). And you already know him. So as you continue, as you step forward toward death daily, it is a continuous journey into eternity. In fellowship with God, there is no break, no “death,” just more and more. We step from a taste of eternity into eternity. We do not step into the unknown; we step into a deeper joy of fellowship with the One with whom we already have fellowship. Oh, the apostle’s soul groans with the desire to impart the joys of this fellowship, the raptures he has seen, the peace he has felt as he has rested his head against the Christ’s bosom. Step from love to more abounding love; step from peace to deeper peace; step from joy to rapturous joy; step from fellowship to inexpressible glory fellowship. “This life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it, and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and wad made manifest to us… so that you too may have fellowship with us, and indeed, our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ” (1 John 1:2-3).

Eternal joys at his right hand, pleasures forevermore (Ps. 16:11). To love him, know him, delight in him. This is life itself. You already know him, this unchanging, eternal God, who was with you from the beginning and will be with you every step of the way. As life changes, he does not change. As you change, he does not change. And the unchanging God changes you into more like his unchanging being. And so eternity will just be a continuation of deepening fellowship, deepening joy with him. Oh! What love the Father has lavished on us! To be his sons, to know him, now and throughout eternity. We are in an unbroken continuous journey of love and life with him, even as we step into eternity. Rest in this, spiritual fathers.