How many people have finished their shopping?
Did you hear about the guy who went out and bought his wife a beautiful diamond ring for Christmas? His friend said, “I thought she wanted a new SUV?”
She did,” he replied. "But where am I gonna find a fake Jeep?”
The Bible has a wonderful phrase “from everlasting to everlasting.” For just a moment think about that phrase. That which this child brings will be from everlasting on this hand to everlasting on the other hand. It stretches the mind beyond where we can in any way comfortably go.
For those of you who want just a few more facts,
Everlasting Father = Abi-`ad
It’s actually a hyphenated word and it means pretty much what you imagine it means.
“Abi” = “Father.” (It’s the root from which we get the word, “Abbot,” for the chief father at a monastery, for instance.)
`ad = everlasting Or, eternal, or “unceasing in duration.
The child born in Bethlehem will be recognized as eternal – He had no beginning, He has no end. He existed before He came to earth, and He will exist forever. People were living in shaky times, so they wanted something they could cling to. (Is that you?) And people in shaky times want someone they can depend on – a father-figure, if you will. He said first, “The One who’s coming is everlasting.” In other words, “He’s eternal. He’s always existed and always will.”
I find in the scripture that Christ has always existed. Forever! Look with me at John chapter one.
“In the beginning was the Word (Jesus), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.” … “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:1-4; 14 (NKJV)
THERE ARE TWO THINGS THAT THE WORLD IS DESPERATELY SEARCHING FOR TODAY:
1. TIME
2. STABILITY, PREMANENCY
The child would bring a new dynamic of relationship into this world and this relationship would be an eternal / everlasting relationship. Over the years you and both have experienced relationships with people. As you mature you notice that relationships move and change with winds of time.
When Jesus comes into your life and becomes your friend you have a friend who is a friend forever. He doesn’t change! He doesn’t grow stale in his relationship with you. Time doesn’t effect how close He is to you. He doesn’t become uninterested in you and what is happening in your life! He is the same, yesterday, today and forever! There is wonderful permanency in our relationship with Jesus. This child who was to come would change forever the conditions and dynamic of relations.
We are going to look at three qualities of what Eternal Father means for us.
1. Christ’s CHARACTER does not change.
The contemporary Christian composer and artist Chris Tomlin’s song “Forever” is right on target in praising God as our Eternal Father for His goodness, faithfulness, love, and mercy. The words found in that song are:
Give thanks to the Lord
Our God and King
His love endures forever.
For He is good, He is above all things
His love endures forever.
From the rising to the setting sun
His love endures forever.
By the grace of God
We will carry on
His love endures forever.
Sing praise, sing praise.
Sing praise, sing praise.
Yeah!
Forever God is faithful
Forever God is strong
Forever God is with us
Forever
Forever.
Here is a fact. Jesus being part of the trinity - Jesus being God - means that the character of Jesus does not change. His mercy, His love, His grace, His forgiveness does not change – from the dawning of the day to the setting of the sun – His character does not change. From the beginning of time into eternity -Jesus’ character never alters. Look at what the Bible says in Hebrews chapter thirteen:
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” Hebrews 13:8 (HCSB)
Example: The Prodical Son
2. Christ’s COMPASSION does not change.
Throughout the gospels we find that Jesus was full of compassion.
“But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with COMPASSION for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd.” Matthew 9:36 (NKJV)
“Now a leper came to Him, imploring Him, kneeling down to Him and saying to Him, "If You are willing, You can make me clean." Then Jesus, moved with COMPASSION, stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, "I am willing; be cleansed." Mark 1:40-41 (NKJV)
“But while the son was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with COMPASSION. He ran, threw his arms around his neck, and kissed him.” Luke 15:20 (HCSB)
I went and looked up the word "compassion". It means:
Suffering with another; painful sympathy; a sensation of sorrow excited by the distress or misfortunes of another. Compassion is a mixture of passion, compounded with love and sorrow.
When Jesus sees us in our distress He has compassion on us. When He sees the mess we have made of our lives He is moved with compassion. When life has been hard - when we have been dealt a bad hand - when disaster after disaster follows us around like a puppy – when the whole world seems to be falling in around us - God is moved with compassion. The compassion of Jesus moves Him to rescue us. The compassion of Jesus moves Him to save us. The compassion of Jesus does not change.
Scott Wesley Brown affirms the compassion of our Eternal Father in his song “He Will Carry You”:
There is no problem too big He cannot solve it:
There is no mountain too tall He cannot move it.
There is no storm too dark God cannot calm it:
There is no sorrow too deep He cannot soothe it.
If He carried the weight of the world upon His shoulders,
I know, my brother, that He will carry you.
If He carried the weight of the world upon His shoulders,
I know, my sister, that He will carry you.
He said, “Come unto Me all who are weary, and I will give you rest.”
Not only does Christ’s character and compassion NOT change, but:
3. Christ’s COMMITMENT does not change.
Folks in the home I grew up in – my father was always there. He never abandoned us. He never walked out on us. I know this is not the case in some families – but it is the case in my family history - my father was always there - and it is the case in your heavenly family too.
“Because of the Lord’s faithful love we do not perish, for His mercies never end. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness! I say: The Lord is my portion, therefore I will put my hope in Him. The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the person who seeks Him. It is good to wait quietly for deliverance from the Lord.” Lamentations 3:22-26 (HCSB)
“I know what I’m doing. I have it all planned out —plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.” Jeremiah 29:11 (MSG)
Jesus is our Eternal Father. He is always there for you – He will not abandon you. His character does not change. His compassion does not change. His commitment to you does not change. Turn to Him. Worship Him. Commitment yourself to Him - today.
I. HE HAS A PERMANENT RELATIONSHIP WITH US.
Everlasting – perpetual, eternal, forever, without end.
Last week, we discovered that Jesus Christ is eternal, without beginning/end.
Ps. 90:2 BEFORE THE MOUNTAINS WERE BORN OR YOU BROUGHT FORTH THE EARTH AND THE WORLD, FROM EVERLASTING TO EVERLASTING YOU ARE GOD.
A. His love toward us is everlasting.
Jesus will never stop loving us.
He can never love us any more or less than He already does right now.
ISA. 54:8 BUT WITH EVERLASTING KINDNESS I WILL HAVE COMPASSION ON YOU,” SAYS THE LORD YOUR REDEEMER.
JER. 31:3 I HAVE LOVED YOU WITH AN EVERLASTING LOVE.
B. His covenant with us is everlasting.
God has entered into a covenant relationship with us.
Illus. A marriage covenant, for example, says, “till death do us part”.
•There’s no such clause in God’s covenant with us!
Ez. 37:26-27 I WILL MAKE A COVENANT OF PEACE WITH THEM; IT WILL BE AN EVERLASTING COVENANT. I WILL ESTABLISH THEM AND INCREASE THEIR NUMBERS, AND I WILL PUT MY SANCTUARY AMONG THEM FOREVER. 27 MY DWELLING PLACE WILL BE WITH THEM; I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY WILL BE MY PEOPLE.
JESUS IS OUR “FATHER”:
He is eternal. He has always existed, and always will exist. He’s everlasting father. – Father forever.
The second part of the phrase is “father.”
His Son was born a child, yes. But look what happened when Jesus grew up: He care for people. Like a father does.
He nurtured sick people back to health. Like a father does.
He prayed for people. Like a father does.
He was there for people. He was strong and dependable, like a father.
What title do we as Canadians give to John A MacDonald? We call him the Father of Confederation. We have no problem calling them “fathers” of our nation because they were involved in its conception. They were there as our nation was being formed. Interesting! Could that be what the title – Eternal Father – is referring to?
Many of us don’t have a very good image of father. The one we had might have been anything but “everlasting” – possibly temporary is more like it.
But here we’re told that whoever we are, the Messiah will be called “Everlasting Father” to us. He will be there. Forever. And he will not follow the pattern of brokenness that so many of our fathers passed onto us. As our everlasting father he will do what fathers are called to do: provide for us, watch over us, and yes even discipline us.
As my EVERLASTING FATHER, Jesus gives me acceptance and approval.
In Jesus I find acceptance and approval.
With the woman at the well (John 4) he knew all about her sin but befriended her anyway.
The woman caught in adultery (John 7) – he said “neither do I condemn you”
About himself he said John 3:17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
He is not waiting for me to “perform”. He does not withhold his love from me for some sort of “trial period” to see if I’m worthy of his love. No – he loves me. And he lavishes His love upon me. But I’m not special. He loves every one of you, too. He lavishes his love upon all of you!
Your father may or may not have ever given you such affirmation – but you can find it in Jesus Christ!
Jesus is our “Everlasting Father”
A. Our Father gives life.
Illus. In a human sense, we were “created” by our parents.
•In a larger sense, we were created by our Heavenly Father.
Gen. 2:7 THE LORD GOD FORMED THE MAN FROM THE DUST OF THE GROUND AND BREATHED INTO HIS NOSTRILS THE BREATH OF LIFE, AND THE MAN BECAME A LIVING BEING.
Jn. 1:3 THROUGH JESUS ALL THINGS WERE MADE; WITHOUT HIM NOTHING WAS MADE THAT HAS BEEN MADE.
•Jesus gave us not only physical life, but more importantly, spiritual life.
Jn. 5:24 I TELL YOU THE TRUTH, WHOEVER HEARS MY WORD AND BELIEVES HIM WHO SENT ME HAS ETERNAL LIFE AND WILL NOT BE CONDEMNED; HE HAS CROSSED OVER FROM DEATH TO LIFE.
B. Our Father gives advice.
We looked at this 2 weeks ago when we learned that Jesus is our Wonderful Counselor.
Lk. 21:15 FOR I WILL GIVE YOU WORDS AND WISDOM THAT NONE OF YOUR ADVERSARIES WILL BE ABLE TO RESIST OR CONTRADICT.
Eph. 1:17 I KEEP ASKING THAT THE GOD OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, THE GLORIOUS FATHER, MAY GIVE YOU THE SPIRIT OF WISDOM AND REVELATION, SO THAT YOU MAY KNOW HIM BETTER.
How many times over the years have we asked our fathers for advice or wisdom?
•After all, they’ve already been where we’re at.
Illus.- Mark Twain said, "When I was a boy of 14 my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to 21, I was astonished at how much the old man learned in 7 years."
C. Our Father loves us.
JN. 15:9 AS THE FATHER HAS LOVED ME, SO HAVE I LOVED YOU. NOW REMAIN IN MY LOVE.
Illus. I love it when my kids want to snuggle with me.
•In my arms, they know they’re loved.
That’s the way I look at Jesus as a Father.
•I know He loves me, even more than any earthly father could ever love me!
•I know He’ll always be there to put His nail-scarred hands around me and remind me of how much I am loved.
D. Our Father protects us.
Again, we saw this last week in Jesus, our Mighty God.
When our kids are afraid, where’s the first place they run? To their dads.
When my kids are in my arms, not only do they know they’re loved, they also know they’re safe and secure, no matter what is happening around them.
•They know their father will protect them. Jesus does the same thing.
Jn. 17:11-12 (Jesus praying) HOLY FATHER, PROTECT THEM BY THE POWER OF YOUR NAME—THE NAME YOU GAVE ME—SO THAT THEY MAY BE ONE AS WE ARE ONE. 12WHILE I WAS WITH THEM, I PROTECTED THEM AND KEPT THEM SAFE BY THAT NAME YOU GAVE ME.
2 THES. 3:3 THE LORD IS FAITHFUL, AND HE WILL STRENGTHEN AND PROTECT YOU FROM THE EVIL ONE.
Jesus never lets His guard down, He never lets us down.
•He is always there for us to run to, to keep us safe, to protect us from evil.
•He will never allow us to slip away from Him.
Jn. 10:27-28 MY SHEEP LISTEN TO MY VOICE; I KNOW THEM, AND THEY FOLLOW ME. 28I GIVE THEM ETERNAL LIFE, AND THEY SHALL NEVER PERISH; NO ONE CAN SNATCH THEM OUT OF MY HAND.
Jesus is our Everlasting Father. He has a permanent and paternal relationship with us. Together, they make the third point…
PS. 103:17 BUT FROM EVERLASTING TO EVERLASTING THE LORD’S LOVE IS WITH THOSE WHO FEAR HIM, AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS WITH THEIR CHILDREN’S CHILDREN—
E: As my EVERLASTING FATHER, Jesus disciplines me.
He doesn’t just simply accept me and approve me and say he’s proud of me – he wants me to grow up. He wants me to mature into a man who fulfills the great dreams and hopes he has for me. And because of this, sometimes I’m in need of discipline.
Prov. 3:11-12 My son, do not despise the LORD’s discipline and do not resent his rebuke, because the LORD disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in.
CONCLUSION:
And finally, our salvation will be eternal. God’s punishment, and anger, and wrath were completely exhausted in the death and suffering of Christ on the cross; so that for those who are in Christ, there will never be any judgment or condemnation. God’s attitude toward us will never be anything but complete love and goodness. Listen to these promises:
"and, once made perfect, [Jesus] became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him." -- Hebrews 5:9
"Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them." -- Hebrews 7:25
"I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand." -- John 10:28
God came to earth to develop/establish a permanent relationship with us.
•That relationship could only be established once we had been delivered from sin.
•When Jesus saves us, He saves us forever.
ISA. 45:17 BUT ISRAEL WILL BE SAVED BY THE LORD WITH AN EVERLASTING SALVATION; YOU WILL NEVER BE PUT TO SHAME OR DISGRACED, TO AGES EVERLASTING.
ISA. 60:20 YOUR SUN WILL NEVER SET AGAIN, AND YOUR MOON WILL WANE NO MORE; THE LORD WILL BE YOUR EVERLASTING LIGHT, AND YOUR DAYS OF SORROW WILL END.
JN. 6:47 I TELL YOU THE TRUTH, HE WHO BELIEVES HAS EVERLASTING LIFE.
If you’ve entered into that covenant with God by trusting completely in and giving your life to Jesus Christ, you can be assured that His covenant, His salvation, will never end.
Our Messiah, our Everlasting Father, has a permanent relationship with us.
His love, His covenant, and His salvation are everlasting.
"The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms."
-- Deuteronomy 33:27
