Last Sunday, I told a story and showed a video to conclude my sermon. For those of you who may not have been here, it was a story about a father and his handicapped son. When most of the medical system had written this child off as “a vegetable”, this dad refused to give up. He found a way for his son to communicate, and then he found a way to bring a deep richness to his life. See, when they went running – dad pushing the son in a wheelchair – the son said “I feel like I’m not disabled anymore”. So they run – in marathons, and in triathlons, and even in the Iron Man. This dad is now 73, and he and his son ran in this year’s Boston Marathon. The dad explains, “I do it purely for the awesome feeling of the smile on his son’s face.” After telling the story, I shared a video I’d found that accompanied it, and most of us had tears rolling down our faces and then left challenged and inspired and uplifted by the love of father and son, and of a life that had once been written off being reclaimed, finding great joy, and having a huge purpose in now inspiring others (the father-son team do a lot of motivational speaking engagements).
In preparing to share the story, I had of course read it and watched the video a bunch of times before Sunday, but when I watched it in the service with all of the rest of us it impacted me again, and this time a little differently. As I watched, I felt the Holy Spirit whispering something new to me along with the video, and it was this: “Steve, see that father pushing his son in a wheelchair, pulling him through the water, cycling with him on the front, all so that disabled child can delight in life? All just so he can see that great smile, know the exuberance of his son, feel the arm-in-air joy of his son?? See that father? - that is me… and the disabled guy with the big smile, that is you…” It is pretty easy to see where that goes… I like to think I’m not the disabled guy, I’m the big strong father, but in reality I know God is right. There is a lot in my life, and in yours as well, that prevents me from living life to the full. There is a lot of handicap. And so I could be written off, left in an institution, or be left to try and muddle through life on my own like a mentally handicapped street person pushing a grocery cart with no support. But I’m not written off… I have a big strong Father, His name is God, and His greatest delight is in my redeemed life living in joy. So my Father will run, He will push me in a wheelchair and pull me in a dingy and put me on the front of His bike, He will even sacrifice that most precious thing to Him – the life of His son, Jesus – so that I can be restored and enjoy life to the full.
I don’t know what your experience of “father” is. Mine was non-existent, I grew up without a father in the home. Yours might have been negative, it might have been positive, most likely it was a bit of both. And while that certainly has a huge impact on how we relate to and experience God as Father, let’s not just get stuck there, instead let’s maybe allow God to define Himself as our Father.
The most common perception of God as Father is in a disciplinarian role – harking back to the day of “just you wait till your father gets home young man!”. We tend to see God the Father in the roll of judge – sitting high on the judge’s bench with a black gown and a stern look, gavel at the ready, about to convict us of sin and slam the gavel down and send us to our punishment. There may be a place for those images, but absolutely not the place of prominence that they have for us. The truth of God as Father is much much broader, much more beautiful, and much more intimate than that distant guy on the bench who read your file and heard the accusations of your accuser. Let’s re-imagine God as Father as involved in our life, as the father who cried tears of joy at our birth, who rocked us to sleep in his arms while singing lullabies, who laughed and fed us in the high chair, who wiped the dirt off our skinned knees when we fell, who taught us to ride a bike and ran beside us as fast as he could so he could catch us when we almost tipped over, who encouraged us when we didn’t think we could do it, who coached our soccer teams, who smiled at our junior high band concerts, who cried at our high school graduation, who showed us how much he loved us by setting limits and enforcing them, who paid the tuition for our college/university, who listened and coached us on our emerging adult relationships, who was always eager for a phone call for advice and came running over to help start the lawnmower or hold the ladder while we clean out the gutters, and so on throughout our adult life. How about we re-imagine God as Father, not as judge high on a stand, but as close beside us as the father in the story I shared last week. Intimately involved in our lives.
Bridge:
I figured out last week that I have four Sundays left to preach as Sr. Pastor here – July 14 will be the last Sunday. So I’ve decided to spend those last few weeks preaching on my favorite things. This week, as you’ve already figured out, is on God the Father and His love for us. Next week will be on God the Son – Jesus – and His love for us. Then it will be on God the Holy Spirit, and her love for us (and yes, I did say “her” love, come back on July 7 and I’ll explain that!). July 14 will be a baptism Sunday, and my favorite thing to celebrate how the love of God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit transforms our lives.
Scripture:
Six years ago, I wrote something for Father’s day. It is almost entirely Scripture, which I compiled in the form of a letter from God to us. So let’s go to Scripture.
My Dear Children,
I write to you as the Almighty God, creator and sustainer, giver of life and joy and eternity, King of Kings and Lord of Lords. And I write to you also, at the very same time, as Father. Dad. Daddy.
“20 My child, pay attention to what I say. Listen carefully to my words. 21 Don’t lose sight of them. Let them penetrate deep into your heart, 22 for they bring life to those who find them, and healing to their whole body.” (Prov 4).
I planned you. Long ago, before there was even time, I had you in mind. And then, when the time came, I “made all the delicate, inner parts of your body, and knit you together in your mother’s womb… I made you so wonderfully complex! My workmanship is marvelous—how well you know it. I watched you as you were being formed in utter seclusion, as you were woven together in the dark of the womb. I saw you before you were born. Every day of your life was recorded in my book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.” (Ps 139:13-16, voicing changed).
So when you look at yourself, see yourself the way I see you. Precious. Created masterfully. Don’t listen to the other voices, which tear you down and beat you up, that say you should look like some impossible, boring stereotype. I created you – I made you the way you are on purpose. To me, you are beautiful. I am the “Lord, I am your Father. You are the clay, and I am the potter. You all are formed by my hand.” (Is 64:8 voicing changed). “Should the created thing say of the one who made it, “He didn’t make me”? Does a jar ever say, “The potter who made me is stupid”?” (Is 29:16). I am hurt, I am angry when you insult my workmanship, when you listen to the voices of evil people around you who say that to be beautiful you must look a certain way, be a certain size or shape, when I made you and molded you and knit you and shaped you. And when I look at you, I see the beauty that I created.
I created you, and as a good Father I gave you limits. To protect you, to guide you, to show you how to live in the ways that would make sure that your life was most full. “1 “When you were a child, I loved you, and I called you out of slavery. 2 But the more I called to you, the farther you moved from me, (offering your love to others instead of me). 3 I myself taught you how to walk, leading you along by the hand. But you don’t know or even care that it was I who took care of you. 4 I led you along with my ropes of kindness and love. I lifted the yoke from your neck, and I myself stooped to feed you.” (Hos 11:1-4, modified). Yes, that was me. Your true Father. I guided your steps, placed food in your mouth, protected your path, and showered you with love and affection. Because in those crucial moments of your early life, you needed to know that you are loved, that you are secure in my love, and that I am near.
It hurt when you turned away. When I called, and you moved further. When I reached out and took you by the hand and led you in safety, and you rejected me. But still I love you. And because I love you, I have been angry at your disobedience. “22 Have you no respect for me? Why don’t you tremble in my presence? I, the LORD, define the ocean’s sandy shoreline as an everlasting boundary that the waters cannot cross. The waves may toss and roar, but they can never pass the boundaries I set. 23 But my people have stubborn and rebellious hearts. They have turned away and abandoned me. 24 They do not say from the heart, ‘Let us live in awe of the LORD our God, for he gives us rain each spring and fall, assuring us of a harvest when the time is right.’ 25 Your wickedness has deprived you of these wonderful blessings. Your sin has robbed you of all these good things.” (Jer 5:22-25).
“19 “I thought to myself, ‘I would love to treat you as my own children!’ I wanted nothing more than to give you this beautiful land— the finest possession in the world. I looked forward to your calling me ‘Father,’ and I wanted you never to turn from me.” (Jer 3:19).
But you did turn from me, and I lost you. You left, and were lost. So I decided to chase you. To come after you. To pursue you with my love. “13 I am like a father to my children, tender and compassionate to those who fear me. 14 For I know how weak you are; I remember you are only dust.” (Ps 103). And so I came to find you, to rescue you, to set you free.
“3 Once you were foolish and disobedient. You were misled and became slaves to many lusts and pleasures. Your lives were full of evil and envy, and you hated each other. 4 But—“When I, God your Savior, revealed my kindness and love, 5 I saved you, not because of the righteous things you had done, but because of my mercy. I washed away your sins, giving you a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit. 6 I generously poured out the Spirit upon you through Jesus Christ your Savior. 7 Because of my grace I declared you righteous and gave you confidence that you will inherit eternal life.” (Tit 3, modified).
“4 when the right time came, I sent my Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. 5 I sent him to buy freedom for you who were slaves to the law, so that I could adopt you as my very own children. 6 And because you are my children, I have sent the Spirit of my Son into your hearts, prompting you to call out, “Abba, Father.” 7 Now you are no longer a slave but my own child. And since you are my child, I have made you my heir. (Gal 4)
“22 My faithful love never ends! My mercies never cease. 23 Great is my faithfulness; my mercies begin afresh each morning. 24 Say to yourself, “The Lord is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!” 25 I am good to those who depend on me, to those who search for me. 26 So it is good to wait quietly for salvation from me. 27 And it is good for people to submit at an early age to the yoke of my discipline.” (Lam 3, modified).
So let us leave the past, when you were a sinner far from me, and instead let us talk about today. As my child, you bear my Name. You are my ambassador to the world around you. You are my representative.
My love and my grace are your foundation. “35 Can anything ever separate you from my love? Does it mean I no longer love you if you have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death?... 37 No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is yours through Christ, who loved you. 38 Be convinced that nothing can ever separate you from my love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate you from my love. 39 No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from my love, that is revealed in Christ Jesus your Lord. (Rom 8).
“12 Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do. 13 For if you live by its dictates, you will die. But if through the power of my Spirit you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature, you will live. 14 For all who are led by my Spirit are my children. 15 So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received my Spirit when I adopted you as my own children. Now you call me, “Abba, Father.” 16 For my Spirit joins with your spirit to affirm that you are my children. 17 And since you are my children, you are my heirs. In fact, together with Christ you are heirs of my glory. But if you are to share my glory, you must also share my suffering.” (Rom 8 modified).
With that strong foundation of my love, you will have success in the task I give you. You see, ““Everyone who calls on my name will be saved. 14 But how can they call on me to save them unless they believe in me? And how can they believe in me if they have never heard about me? And how can they hear about me unless someone tells them?” (Rom 10, modified). Recall the words of my Son, Jesus: “As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.” (John 20:21).
I send you, to live a life of holiness. To walk in step with the Holy Spirit, whom I have given you, and to be vocal and demonstrative witnesses of my love and my power. I send you, and need you to obey.
“5 Do not forget the encouraging words I spoke to you as my children. I said, “My child, don’t make light of my discipline, and don’t give up when I correct you. 6 For I discipline those I love, and I punish each one I accept as my child.” 7 As you endure this divine discipline, remember that I am treating you as my own children. Who ever heard of a child who is never disciplined by its father? 8 If I didn’t discipline you as I do all of my children, it means that you are illegitimate and are not really my children at all. 9 Since you respected your earthly fathers who disciplined you, shouldn’t you submit even more to the discipline of the Father of your spirits, and live forever? 10 For your earthly fathers disciplined you for a few years, doing the best they knew how. But my discipline is always good for you, so that you might share in my holiness. 11 No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.” (Heb 12)
“20 Are you not still my son, my darling child? I often have to punish you, but I still love you. That’s why I long for you and surely will have mercy on you.” (Jer 31).
Along the way, you will face difficult times. “Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” (Jn 16:33). “16 Look, I am sending you out as sheep among wolves. So be as shrewd as snakes and harmless as doves” (Matt 10). “I am your merciful Father and the source of all comfort. 4 I comfort you in all your troubles so that you can comfort others. When they are troubled, you will be able to give them the same comfort I have given you.” (2 Cor 1)
“Cheer up! Don’t be afraid! 17 For I, the LORD your God, am living among you. I am a mighty savior. I take delight in you with gladness. With my love, I will calm all your fears. I will rejoice over you with joyful songs.” Zeph 3
Finally, know this: I am with you. You are not alone. Not now, not in your moments of deepest joy, not in the moments when you think I am not watching, not in the moments of greatest crisis and loneliness. Because I am your Father. “18 No, I will not abandon you as orphans—I will come to you.” (Jn 14). “Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine.” (Is 43:1).
Love, God the Father
Conclusion:
Steve, see that father pushing his son in a wheelchair, pulling him through the water, cycling with him on the front, all so that disabled child can delight in life? All just so he can see that great smile, know the life, feel the arm-in-air joy of his son?? That is me… and the disabled guy with the big smile, that is you…
