The Perfect Father

Several years ago on Father's Day, I was sitting at my usual post at the organ. I took a peek at the congregation, and I noticed a young woman's face--pale and solemn. I happened to know, by her own testimony to the ladies of our church, that she had been the victim of childhood sexual abuse at the hands of her father. I wanted to cry. In fact, I still get that feeling behind my eyes and throat when I think of the incident today.

Not all dads are worthy of praise.

I think of another young woman who was raised an only child by a single mother. As far as I know, her biological father was absent--physically, emotionally, even financially--from her life. Perhaps because of this missing piece in her early years, she has made a series of bad choices regarding men.

For all practical purposes some people didn't have a dad.

And then there is the matter of my two daughters in law. One, Jordan, lost her father to cancer when she was a child of twelve. This was a devastating loss at a time when her whole security depended on her parents. The other one, Kelly, lost her dad to cancer a mere year ago right around Father's Day. Though older than Jordan's dad, he was not an old man.

Some dads are definitely worthy of our honor, and we miss them!

If you have a wonderful father and he is still with you, you should honor him today. If your dad is gone from this life, I think it is good to reflect on the blessings he brought. But today what I really want to emphasize is that if you have been born again, if you are God's child, you have the perfect Father. Actually, He has qualities that your earthly father, no matter how honorable, cannot have. He created you and He knows all about you; He is wise and good;  He hears you at any time of the day or night; He has the resources to supply your every need; He has the power to forgive you, and He never holds your sins against you; in fact, He is all-powerful; and He loves you unconditionally.

Did you know that God has given you the greatest Father's Day gift? In Ephesians 2, Paul reminds us that we were disobedient, obnoxious children,
but God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,  Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)  And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:  That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:  Not of works, lest any man should boast.  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Happy Father's Day!