What Is A Father?

Father’s Day is June 15th.  The question was once asked, “What is a father?”  A little boy answered, “A father is a person who has pictures in his wallet where he used to have money.” 

Someone else had this definition: “Fathers make bets with insurance companies about who’ll live the longest.  Fathers are what give daughters away to other men who aren’t nearly good enough, so they can have grandchildren that are smarter than anybody’s.  But most unique, a father is a man who reflects the image of God and who makes it easier for his children to know their heavenly Father.”  Indeed, fathers are special people.  I believe the quality of a child’s relationship with his or her father is the most important influence in deciding how they will react to the world around them. 

The Greek Philosopher, Socrates once said, “If I could get to the highest place in Athens, I would lift up my voice to say, ‘What mean ye, fellow citizens, that ye turn every stone to scrape wealth together, and take so little care of your children to whom ye must one day relinquish all?’” 

That seems to be the problem with a lot of families in America today--we spend so much time on things that will pass away and we neglect the most important things in life.  I believe the call is going out, asking the question: Where are the men?  Where are those who will stand up for what is right even when it’s not popular?  Where are the husbands who will love their wives and stay faithful to them in the midst of a society that glorifies adultery and promiscuity?  Yes, God is still looking for a few good men! 

Statistics show that nearly every man on Death Row either hates his father or never really knew him.  I believe the breakdown of the family unit is the #1 cause for many of the problems in society today.  Every child needs some kind of affirmation from his or her father in order to overcome the trials of life...whether it’s in a hug, a handshake, or a spoken word.  Dad, your children need to know that you love them -- even if they don’t turn out quite the way you planned.

You may be familiar with the story of the prodigal son in Luke 15:11-32.  He was the youngest son of a wealthy land owner.  One day, he decided he wanted his share of the inheritance early so he could enjoy it while he was young.  So the father gave it to him and he left home.  It didn’t take long before all of his money was gone and a famine hit the land.  The young man got a job feeding swine and, because of starvation, he was tempted to eat the pigs’ food just to stay alive.  It was then that he decided to go back home, ask his father to forgive him and just make him a servant. 

The Bible tells us that his father did not make him wallow in guilt and beg to be forgiven.  Nor did he look down at his lost son and say, “Well, I hope you learned your lesson, boy!”  No... when he saw his son afar off, he ran to his son and gave him a hug, a kiss, a robe, and a ring! 

That’s exactly what our heavenly Father is like.  It does not matter to God how far you’ve run, what you have done or who you’ve done it with. 

All that matters to Him is that you will come back home to the One who loves you.  Regardless of how your earthly father may have treated you...your heavenly Father is just waiting for the opportunity to show you how much He cares!  God is the true definition of a father.

Article for week of June 15th.

Rev. Doug Johnson, Senior Pastor, Lexington First Assembly of God in Lexington, KY.

www.LexingtonFirst.org