Seasons of the Christian Life

Just as with physical life, there are the four seasons of the Christian life.

We all start out as children:

Ephesians 5:1 NKJV

Therefore be imitators of God as dear children.

Ephesians 5:8 NKJV

For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light

Ephesians 4:14 NKJV

that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting,

Ephesians 6:3 NKJV

“that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.”

Children need patient training as they learn and grow.

Children have to be taught how to take care of themselves.

1 John 1:7–10 NKJV

But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.

Children have to be taught how to communicate intelligently.

Children have to be taught to be aware of potential dangers.

Children are expected to grow up and act their age!

After childhood we enter into - or we should - the season of responsibility.

It is typically at this time that they

In our physical lives this is when we begin working and establishing our own families.

In our spiritual lives, likewise, this is when we should be taking on greater responsibility in the church and being more active in the work.

Paul uses this phase of life to illustrate the relationship between Christ and His church.

Ephesians 5:22–33 NKJV

Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church. For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones. “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church. Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.

Eph. 5:

Then there comes that phase of our lives when our children have grown into young adults and we are entering into our third season, hopefully, with the wisdom of years and experience on our side.

Spiritually, this is the time when we are into roles of guiding new workers in the Lord’s cause.

Titus 2:3–4 NKJV

the older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things—that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children,

2 John 1 NKJV

The Elder, To the elect lady and her children, whom I love in truth, and not only I, but also all those who have known the truth,

Having lived for Christ through the three seasons of Christian growth and maturity, we can face the final season - the winter of our years when we approach our time to depart this world - without fear.

Phil. 1:

Philippians 1:22–23 NKJV

But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell. For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better.

2 Corinthians 5:2 NKJV

For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven,

2 Corinthians 5:8 NKJV

We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.

2 Timothy 4:6 NKJV

For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand.