THE EXAMPLE OF OUR HEAVENLY FATHER
Text: Matthew 5:48
Dispelling the dangerous myth that all are children of God, Louis Everly wrote: “It is only when we are subject to a common father that we are brothers. To become brothers we have only to become sons again”. (Wayne A. Detzler. New Testament Words In Today’s Language. Wheaton: Victor Books, 1986. p. 155).
One of the things that the parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32) does is to illustrate both willingness as well as resistance to being children of God. Another thing that the parable of the Prodigal Son teaches us is how we can see the role of God in our earthly fathers.
The Bible tells us that those who are Spirit-led (Romans 8:14) are God’s children. The Spirit of sonship liberates us otherwise we would be slaves to fear (Romans 8:15 paraphrased). The Holy Spirit draws us near so that we can we call God our heavenly Father, Abba (Romans 8:15).
THE REPUTATION OF EARTHLY FATHERS
The ideal image …
Almost all fathers would want their children to look at them with respect. The kind of respect that we give to our Heavenly Father has the element of “awe” which is said to be a respect that is tinged with fear. Earthly fathers even like for their children to have “awe” in their respect for good ol’ dad. It is obvious that the “awe” of earthly fathers is limited unlike the “awe” of our Heavenly Father that makes Him truly and “awesome” God!
When a child wants to imitate his or her father, more than likely they want to do so because of the attributes of generosity, strength and authority that they see in their fathers. (Ronald Youngblood. Special – Day Sermons: Outline And Messages. Grand Rapids: Baker Bookhouse, 1989, p. 122).
The cultural reputation …
There are many cultures with ideal fathers such as Jewish, Oriental, Italian and American. “The juvenile crime rate in Italy is among the lowest in the world because the Italian father, however poor or lowly, is respected and obeyed by his children. He also soundly thrashes them when they get into the slightest mischief. A juvenile court judge in New York City some time ago made the statement that in his thirty years on the bench he scarcely had to examine a child of Chinese parentage because every Chinese – American father impresses on his children with the shame involved in dishonoring the family name”. (Youngblood, p. 130).
In most cases, the same can be said about fathers from the Jewish culture. Billy Graham once wrote an article in the newspaper giving advice on how to be the ideal father. He said in the following order: First, Love your children and let them know that you love them. Secondly, Spend time with your children, listening to them, playing with, encouraging and teaching them. Thirdly, be an example to your children by your words and actions.
THE CHARACTER OF EARTHLY FATHERS
Duty …
All fathers have the duty of providing for the needs of their children. These duties include both the material side as well as the nurturing side. The material side is food, clothing and shelter. The nurturing side is love and discipline. By discipline I mean both instruction as well as correction.
Discipline …
The instruction side of discipline is always fun. Teaching you child to ride a bike for the first time without training wheels. Or, teaching them how to hit or catch a ball. Or, maybe, and I said maybe teaching your child to drive. Stuff like that is always fun. But, as a parent it is the correction side of discipline that hurts. As a parent you love your children. But, when correction is required it is painful for the parent.
As a child my father once said before giving me a whipping, “This is going to hurt me more than it hurts you?” The last whipping I got as teenager, I thought of that sentence he told me as a child. I dare not say it, but I wanted to say, “As a child you once told me that the whipping was going to hurt you worse than me. Well, can we trade places and then compare notes?”
Josh McDowell in his book More Than A Carpenter, tells the story of a girl whose father was a judge. One day she got a speeding ticket. Her father in the role of the judge found her guilty. But, in the role of the father he stepped down from the judge’s domain and paid the fine.
When I first read that story years ago I was singled. I can tell you that eleven years later now a father of two beautiful young girls my oldest, 10, and my youngest, 7 and a half, that story takes on more and more meaning every time I think about it. It relates how God’s love is to us.
THE EXAMPLE OF OUR HEAVENLY FATHER
God’s perfecting love is our example.
When we read Matthew 5:48 and hear the word perfect, the first connotation that we think of is that of being “flawless”. The Greek word for perfect is telos which means not completion of a process but a goal or an aim. Telos is when something is used for the very purpose for which it was created. “It is when man reproduces in his life the unwearied, forgiving, sacrificial benevolence of God that he becomes like God and is therefore perfect in the New Testament sense of the word” (178). (William Barclay. The Daily Study Bible Series: The Gospel Of Matthew. Volume 1. Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1975, quoted and paraphrased pages 177 and 178).
The goal toward perfection has both joys and uncertainties. There is a song that was recorded by country music artist Ricky Van Shelton that describes a father’s journey through both joys and uncertainties that was entitled ...
Keep It Between The Lines.
Keep It Between The Lines
He was a sitting beside me in the passenger seat.
As I looked through the window at the quiet little street.
He was a smiling so proud as he gave me the key.
But inside I knew he was as nervous as me.
I said “Daddy, oh Daddy are you sure I know how?
Are you sure that I am ready to drive this car now?”
He said, “I’m right here beside you and you’re gonna do fine
All you have to do is keep it between the lines.
Cause it’s a long narrow road,
Only the Good Lord Knows, where it leads in the end.
But you’ve got to begin,
So keep you hands on the wheel,
Believe in the things that are real,
Just take your time and keep it between the lines.”
I was sitting in my chair and a sneaking a look
At him lying in the floor with his coloring book.
And he caught me watching and climbed on my knee.
Said, “Daddy, oh Daddy would you do one with me?”
Then I hugged him so tightly as we turned the page.
Said, “I haven’t done this since I was your age”.
He said, “I’m right here beside and you gonna do fine.
Daddy all you’ve gotta do is keep it between the lines.”
So we finished the picture and I put him to bed.
Got down on my knees and I bowed my head.
And I said, Father, O Father, I feel so alone.
Are you sure I can raise him with his mommy gone?”
And the answer came back so gentle and low.
In the words of my daddy from so long ago.
Said, “I am right here beside you and you gonna do fine.
All you’ve got to do is keep it between the lines.
So keep you hands on the wheel,
Believe in the things that are real,
Just take your time and keep it between the lines.”
For those of us who are earthly fathers from Christian homes, we understand that keeping it between the lines means being the kind of fathers that God would have us to be. How do we do that? Matthew 5:48 gives us the answer.
