God's Job

FAS: Play video of “That’s My Job” Conway Twitty

LYRICS: I woke up cryin' late at night when I was very young

I had dreamed my father had passed away and gone

My world revolved around him, I couldn't lie there anymore

So I made my way down the mirrored hall

And tapped upon his door

And I said, "Daddy, I'm so afraid

How will I go on, with you gone that way?

Don't wanna cry anymore so may I stay with you?"

And he said, "That's my job, that's what I do

Everything I do is because of you

To keep you safe with me, that's my job, you see."

Later we barely got along, this teenage boy and he

Most of the fights it seems were over different dreams

We each held for me

He wanted knowledge and learning, I wanted to fly out west

I said, "I could make it out there if I just had the fare

I got half, will you loan me the rest?"

And I said, "Daddy, I'm so afraid

There's no guarantee in the plans I've made

And if I should fail, who will pay my way back home?"

And he said, "That's my job, that's what I do

Everything I do is because of you

To keep you safe with me, that's my job, you see."

Every person carves his spot and fills the hole with life

And I pray someday I might light as bright as he

Woke up early one bright fall day to spread the tragic news

After all my travel, I settled down within a mile or two

I make my livin' with words and rhymes and all this tragedy

Should go into my head and out instead as bits of poetry

But I say, "Daddy I'm so afraid

How will I go on with you gone this way?

How can I come up with a song to say, I love you?"

"That's my job, that's what I do

Everything I do is because of you

To keep you safe with me, that's my job, you see."

"Everything I do is because of you

To keep you safe with me." 4

[Screen 1]

My good friend Jeremy Hughes played that song for me as we were headed to Lexington the other day. What a picture of who God is in this old country song. It brought to mind the most well known scripture in the Bible, John 3.16…For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son that whoever believes in him will not perish but have everlasting life. [Screen 2]

The song says, That’s my job, that’s what I do, everything I do is because of you, to keep you safe with me. That’s my job you see.

I believe that is the best way we can look at God and get a real feel of his character. We must see Him as a loving heavenly Father.

Let’s look at it this way. Was there ever a time in your life when there was not much peace with your earthly father? I am willing to bet there was. If you had a good dad or mom, lets not leave her out of this, they would more than likely say no sometimes and make you mad. As the child you would think that is my problem.

My parents won’t let me do what I want to do. Why can’t I go play in the street? Why can’t I stay out all night? Why can’t I go to that party? If my parents would just say yes to what I want we would all have peace in our happy family. You know, be the cool parent, the friend to your child who goes along with whatever they want.

Your parents probably thought, yes, if we say yes now we will have peace and our child will be happy, now, but have problems that will take away that happiness later.

So do the parents decide to say yes now and later on have to say you got what you wanted, don’t come running back to me and expect to live here for free? Do we as parents opt for as my dad always said the path of least resistance.

Or…do we do the one of the most difficult things any parent has to do with their child. We tell them [Screen 3] “no” even when we know saying no will destroy the peace that exists between them as parent and child. The child is going to be mad and rebel. There will be conflict.

If in their decision they can give in. They can keep the peace they now have. Go ahead kids. Do what you want, when you want, with whom you want. And they keep the peace. No conflict. For now.