"That which we have seen and heard, declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with His son Jesus Christ."
What greater fellowship can there possibly be than this ? ! Here, in this first letter of John to the Church, we see his burden for those early believers... to continue in their walk with God, in all purity and holiness. You see, John was the 'third man', to whom Jesus gave special insights concerning His Power and Deity. It was Peter, James and John who ascended the Mount of Transfiguration with Jesus and it was they who wre privy to certain miracles, aimed at strenghthening their faith. John wrote three letters to Churches,recorded in The Bible , as well as the Revelation and, of course, his Gospel. What else do we know of John ? Jesus caled him and his brother James 'Boanerges', meaning 'sons of thunder' [or commotion] Mark 3:17. John only, of all the disciples, was present at the crucifixion.(John 19:26,27). Was this perhaps a sign of repentance from 'the beloved disciple', for fleeing away, at the garden of Gethsemane, when Jesus was arrested?(Mark14:50-52).
During the reign of the Roman Emporer Domitian John was exiled to Patmos. On this island, chained to a rock, John received the Revelation. Many of us are in need of a retreat to that quiet place, away from the may distractions of the 'world' , in order to receive fresh revelation from The Lord. How important is this in your life's priorities? For the Christian , who needs to see all from an eternal point of view, it is of prime importance. If we dont 'come apart' , we will come apart !!!.Time spent alone with God is time invested in a future which wll reap great benefits, in this world and the next.
May The Lord Bless you.