M.KRANTHI KUMAR
B.D. FIRST YEAR
NEW THEOLOGICAL COLLEGE
KULHAN P.O., SAHASTRADHARA ROAD,
DEHRADUN, UTTARANCHAL – 248001,
INDIA.
E-MAIL: kranthi_mks@yahoo.co.in
“And I will be a Father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to Me,” says the Lord Almighty. – 2 Corinthians 6:18
In God I find
A Father’s mind
When I was in need
He did feed
When I shed a tear
He did come near
When I walked in the darkest way
He did offer me a light ray
On my bed when I lay
Wonderful words I hear Him say
When my pain was much
I did feel His wonderful touch
In God I find
A Father’s mind
INTRODUCTION:
On one hand, we see God as a father to all human beings, and on the other hand we see Him as a father especially to believers. So, we will look into the following two points in order to understand clearly the father’s heart of God in its completeness.
1) God as a father to non-believers
2) God as a father to believers
Father’s heart of God as a father to all human beings in general is different from His father’s heart as a father to believers.
1. GOD AS A FATHER TO NON-BELIEVERS
A) Father to idol-worshippers:
Idol worshippers are like those children who think that the One True Living God is not their real Father and consider someone else to be their father. Imagine a child calling a person “father” in front of his own father. That father’s heart breaks into pieces. Father’s heart of God is crying out, “My children, I am your true father. I created you with My own hands. The ones you call fathers are not your fathers. Turn to me. Don’t break my heart anymore.”
B) Father to atheists:
Atheists are like children who think that they came into existence without a father. Atheists think that they are wise. But, they don’t know that Heaven is laughing at their foolishness. How does a father feel if he hears his child say, “I just came into being by myself. I have no parents?” Only a mad child would say that. God also thinks of atheists as mad and foolish of heart. Father’s heart of God is longing to remove their madness and impart wisdom to them regarding His existence.
C) Father to namesake Christians:
By the term “namesake Christians”, I mean those people who were Christians by birth but do not have the experience of new birth. They know that God is their Father. But, they do not adore Him as their Father. Imagine a father and a child living in the same house. How would the father feel if his child behaves as if there is no relationship between them? How would the father feel if his child never calls him father, in spite of knowing that he is his father? Doesn’t the father’s heart of God break because of these namesake Christians? God is longing to hear them call Him father with love-filled hearts.
2. GOD AS FATHER TO BELIEVERS
A) Father to infants:
New-born believers are like infants in God’s sight. Everything the infant does will bring joy in a home. O how the father’s heart rejoices, when the infant learns to utter simple words like ‘papa’ or ‘mama’! The father would say, “See! My child is calling me. O how sweet his voice is! He is the most beautiful thing I have.” Even the Heavenly Father’s heart responds in the same manner to the newly born-again believers. Newly born-again believers are like infants. Every spiritual activity they do, even though immature, will bring great joy to the Father heart of God.
B) Father to little kids:
Little kids are curious about everything. They ask a lot of questions. They want to know everything. This is the stage when the father teaches the kids about everything that the child can understand. God as a father to spiritual kids, desires to answer their every question, and teach them the basic elements of the spiritual life. God will carry them on His bosom, as they do not have strength on their own to walk their long spiritual journeys.
C) Father to grown-up children:
When we grow spiritually, Father God expects us to do some things by ourselves. At this stage, the Father’s heart of God expects us to know at least some things by our own. He won’t give us spoon-feeding. That is for little kids. I am not saying that we should depend less upon God, as we grow older. It is only a sign of maturity. We are forever totally dependant upon God, no matter how big we grow in spirit.
D) Father to teenagers:
The most important characteristic of a teenager in my opinion is that they know more than their parents! Without any doubt, there are spiritual teenagers! They think they know everything about God and Bible! How does the Father heart of God respond to spiritual teenagers? I believe God is an expert father! He knows how to handle spiritual teenagers. Here, I am not going to say how God as a father to spiritual teenagers handles them. I just want to present to you the type of challenges God is facing with His children.
E) Father to young people:
By this stage a father experts his son or daughter to get settled in their carriers. Speaking in spiritual terms, we can equate the term “career” to the call of God in our lives. A spiritual young adult should fully know the calling of God in his life. At this stage of our spiritual lives, the Father’s heart of God will be concerned about our calling and expects us to be aware of it. He tries to equip us with the talents and anointing necessary to fulfill our call. As a father, He expects us to be healthy, and active without any laziness.
F) Father to adults:
In this stage of our spiritual lives, Father God expects us to be efficiently fulfilling the call to which we have been called. He has taken great pains for our spiritual formation, and now as a successful Father, He expects fruits from us. He wants to be proud of His children who are bearing fruit, reflecting the nature of their Father.
My dear brother
It is really a wonder
To have God as your Father
Doubt no further
Accept His love so tender
Become His family member
And enjoy His glorious splendor
