When the Apostle John was an old man when he finally sat down to gather his thoughts and express his convictions on parchment. So much had changed since he had walked with Jesus as one of the original Twelve.

Erosion had set into the life of the church. That is what led John to write this letter. He hoped to revive his younger readers to return to an authentic, contagious walk with Christ. His message was relevant then and remains vital today.

A subtle, lethargic boredom had replaced the excitement modelled by those early followers of Jesus. The first thrill was over...the hot flame of devotion reduced to a flicker. In a setting like that, the subtle seeds of heresy are easily sown and quickly grown. Cults feed off complacent churches, where dynamic enthusiasm is replaced by ho-hum indifference.

Tragically, that is exactly what was happening to the church in John's day—and that is precisely what led him to write this letter. He hoped to revive his younger readers to return to an authentic, contagious walk with Christ. His message was relevant then and remains vital today. Let's hear it and heed it!