The past two Sundays we have looked at Isaiah 9:6. We have examined two of the four titles given to Jesus in Isaiah 9:6. He is the “Wonderful Counselor.” He is the “Mighty God.” Today we look at the third. He is the “Everlasting Father.”
Before considering the phrase “Everlasting Father”, I want to state an important fact. There are no perfect fathers. No matter how good or bad your father may have been, he is/was not perfect. I say this because our image of our father will shape our image of God. This can be both good and bad. If you have pleasant images of your father you will tend to have pleasant images of God. If you have unpleasant images of your father you might have unpleasant images of God. It will help our thoughts if we admit, there are no perfect fathers. In recognizing that there are no perfect fathers we must admit that this metaphor does not do justice to Jesus. The truths I highlight will in no way give Jesus the credit He deserves. They will help you appreciate His wonderful character.
Here is my plan. I want to answer the question: what does a father give us? In so doing I want to highlight five gifts we receive from a father. Each of these gifts will help us appreciate the gifts that come from Jesus.
Gift one: A Father is the Source of Life. When a husband and wife conceive a child a miracle occurs. They are the beginning and source of a new life. The Bible is very explicit in identifying Jesus as the source of life. In Colossians 1 we learn that Jesus was the agent of the world’s creation. He was there participating with His Heavenly Father when the world began. Even so, Jesus is the agent through whom spiritual life is given. Jesus said “I am the way the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father but by me.” (John 14:6) In Romans Paul said “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (6:23) There is no life apart from Him.
Illustration: There has been much talk about illegal immigrants in our country. The illegal person is a person who has entered our country without the proper credentials. They are here without permission. When you have the proper credentials and proper permission you have nothing to fear. Without this permission and credentials you will live in uncertainty and fear. The same is true in your spiritual life. Apart from Jesus Christ you do not have the proper credentials. In the book of Ephesians Paul says that without Christ we are “aliens… and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.” In Jesus we find acceptance with God. In Jesus we find permission to enter God’s presence. There is no other way.
People often try to find life outside of Jesus.
1. Some people say “I am a good person.” In that phrase they find their comfort. If that is true, “How good is good enough.”
2. Some people seek life in religion. “If religion gives life then what religion is the right religion and how much religion is enough?”
3. Some people seek life in religious rituals. “If religious rituals give life then how much is enough?”
Your goodness, religion and religious rituals will not give you life. Apart from Jesus there is no spiritual life.
Gift two: A Father is someone with whom you share a relationship. The word father is a relational word. You do not use the word father in describing just anyone. You use this word in describing a close acquaintance. It is someone with whom you have a relationship.
In a relationship you know a person’s name. In a relationship you share companionship. In a relationship your needs are met. In a relationship you share love. Jesus was God’s was of expressing His love to us. There has been an e-mail floating around that illustrates this truth.
The "W" in Christmas - Author Unknown
Each December, I vowed to make Christmas a calm and peaceful experience. I had cut back on nonessential obligations -- extensive card writing, endless baking, decorating, and even overspending. Yet still, I found myself exhausted, unable to appreciate the precious family moments, and of course, the true meaning of Christmas.
My son, Nicholas, was in kindergarten that year. It was an exciting season for a six-year-old. For weeks, he’d been memorizing songs for his school’s "Winter Pageant."
I didn’t have the heart to tell him I’d be working the night of the production. Unwilling to miss his shining moment, I spoke with his teacher. She assured me there’d be a dress rehearsal the morning of the presentation. All parents unable to attend that evening were welcome to come then. Fortunately, Nicholas seemed happy with the compromise.
So, the morning of the dress rehearsal, I filed in ten minutes early, found a spot on the cafeteria floor and sat down. Around the room, I saw several other parents quietly scampering to their seats. As I waited, the students were led into the room. Each class, accompanied by their teacher, sat cross-legged on the floor. Then, each group, one by one, rose to perform their song.
Because the public school system had long stopped referring to the holiday as Christmas," I didn’t expect anything other than fun, commercial entertainment - songs of reindeer, Santa Claus, snowflakes and good cheer. So, when my son’s class rose to sing, "Christmas Love," I was slightly taken aback by its bold title.
Nicholas was aglow, as were all of his classmates, adorned in fuzzy mittens, red sweaters, and bright snowcaps upon their heads. Those in the front row-center stage -- held up large letters, one by one, to spell out the title of the song. As the class would sing "C is for Christmas," a child would hold up the letter C. Then, "H is for Happy," and on and on, until each child holding up his portion had presented the complete message, "Christmas Love."
The performance was going smoothly, until suddenly, we noticed her; a small, quiet, girl in the front row holding the letter "M" upside down -- totally unaware her letter "M" appeared as a "W."
The audience of 1st through 6th graders snickered at this little one’s mistake. But she had no idea they were laughing at her, so she stood tall, proudly holding her "W." Although many teachers tried to shush the children, the laughter continued until the last letter was raised, and we all saw it together. A hush came over the audience and eyes began to widen. In that instant, we understood the reason we were there, why we celebrated the holiday in the first place, why even in the chaos, there was a purpose for our festivities.
For when the last letter was held high, the message read loud and clear:
"C H R I S T W A S L O V E"
Jesus was the perfect expression of God’s love. He extended God’s hand in an effort to establish a relationship. Jesus used a metaphor that describes this relationship. In John 10 Jesus used the metaphor of the sheep and the shepherd. He said “I am the Good Shepherd and know my own sheep, and they know me, just as my Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep.” (John 10:14-15)
Isaiah referred to Jesus as father. In so doing he added another descriptive word. He called Jesus the “Everlasting Father.” Earthly fathers will not live forever. They are human. However, Jesus will be a Father that lasts forever. Your relationship with him will be a never ending relationship. This relationship has everlasting consequences. John’s gospel says “whoever believes in Him will have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)
Before we leave this relationship theme I think it is important to mention an important truth. A relationship requires two in order to be a relationship. One person does not make a relationship. God has extended His hand in love to us. We must be willing to return His love. Do you invest in your relationship with God? Do you spend time listening to Him? Do you spend time talking to Him?
Gift three: A Father provides. A father is often referred to as the “bread winner” in the home. The concept of someone providing for us goes against the grain of the human spirit. It reminds us that we are dependent. There is an ingrained element in the human spirit that rebels against being dependent. This is the essence of sin. Sin is choosing to live apart from God. Sin is choosing to go our own way and do our own thing. If Jesus is our provider, what does He provide?
He provides wisdom. As I look back at my relationship with my father I find that one of the wonderful things he provided was wisdom. He taught me to make wise decisions. He taught me to discern unwise decisions.
He provides direction. Since He is the divine architect He gives direction to those who consult him. Several years ago I was traveling from Tuscaloosa to Gatlinburg. While traveling toward Birmingham I tuned my radio to a Birmingham radio station. The radio DJ warned motorists that there had been a bad wreck on Interstate 459 in the east bound lane. That was our lane. We immediately altered our route. He had knowledge that benefited our travels. Jesus can do the same.He provides completion. The Bible says all of us come short of God’s glory (Rom. 3:23). Jesus completes the missing link due to an insufficient nature.
Gift four: A Father is an encourager. All of us need encouragement and affirmation.
Even super stars have a need for encouragement. A sports columnist named Bob Greene once asked Michael Jordan why he liked for his father to be in the stands during a game, Jordan replied, “When he’s there, I know I have at least one fan.” (Illustration 232 in Contemporary Illustrations for Preachers, Teachers & Writers. P. 257. Editor Craig Brian Larson)
Illustration: The need for encouragement was illustrated by Christian psychologist, Dr. John Trent. He tells a heart warming story that illustrates this truth. Dr. Trent said several years ago while speaking at a conference a lady shared the story with him. Dr. Trent said the story involved the lady’s son. This lady’s son developed the custom of carrying his daughters out for a date night. On one occasion he carried his two year old daughter for a date. He carried her out for breakfast. After receiving their breakfast and before eating the young father decided to spend time affirming his daughter. He told his daughter how they had prayed for her, how she was a wonderful daughter and how proud they were of her. After sharing with the daughter the father picked up his fork to eat. Before he could eat his breakfast the two year old laid her hand on his and said “longer, daddy…longer.” Dr. Trent said the little girl did this four times. A few days later the two year old ran up to her mother and said “I’m a really special daughter, Mommy. Daddy told me so.”(Stories For The Heart- 110 Stories to Encourage Your Soul. Compiled by Alice Gray. p. 163)
Jesus Christ was a word of affirmation from God. He was God’s way of saying, “You are special.” “I love you.” We need to be affirmed, encouraged and told we are special.
Gift five: A Father gives security and protection. When a child is fearful they will immediately call for a father or mother. The parent represents security to them.
This past week I was speaking with a lady who had lost her daughter to death several years ago. This mother said she knew her daughter was in bad condition so she asked if she was prepared to meet God. Her daughter assured her mother that she was saved and prepared to meet God. Not long after their conversation the daughter died. As the mother shared this story she shared her confident assurance that her daughter still lives. She lives in Heaven and she lives forever. What security!
Such security comforts us. We find this illustrated in Psalm 23. The Psalmist said “though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil. Your rod and your staff comfort me.” (Ps. 23:4)
Jesus Christ wants to give you the security of eternal life. In going back to the shepherd analogy we find this truth illustrated. “My sheep recognize my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life and they shall never perish. No one shall snatch them away from me, for my Father has given them to me, and he is more powerful than anyone else, so no one can kidnap them from me.” (John 10:27-29)
The father’s security assures you. I remember a close call our family had when I was a boy. We had been to a state tournament to watch a basketball game. It was late at night and we were on our way home. We were traveling a narrow two lane country road in central Louisiana. The air was blanketed with a cover of fog. There were four cars traveling together. Our car was the second in line. We were approaching a narrow bridge that spanned a river. We were preparing to cross the bridge when the small car in front of us broad sided a large black bull. This bull was standing cross wise of the bridge. There was nowhere for the car to go. They had no choice but to hit the bull. My daddy had to bring our car under control. He was faced with hitting the other car, plunging into the river or sliding into a ditch. He brought our car under control with very little damage. My brother and I were asleep in the back seat. The first thing I remember was my mother screaming. The next things I remember was my daddy’s big strong muscular arm reaching across the seat to comfort and assure me and my brother.
Likewise:
• Jesus will assure you about life issues.
• Jesus will assure you about death issues.
• Jesus will assure you about fear issues.
• Jesus will assure you about your soul.
• Jesus will assure you about eternal life.
Conclusion
I want to end on this theme of security. Do you have security in your relationship with God? Security comes on the basis of God’s promises. God will give you eternal life and a secure place in Heaven if you will ask for it. Jesus is the means to that life. When you receive Jesus by faith, he will give you all of the resources and promises of God.
