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Do it Again, Dad! A young couple had just finished tucking all five of their little children into bed, when they heard sobbing coming from three-year old Billy’s room. Rushing to his side, they found him crying hysterically—he had accidentally swallowed a penny and was sure he was going to die. No amount of talking could change his mind, either. Desperate to calm him down, his father palmed a penny that he happened to have in his pocket and pretended to pull it from his son’s ear, thereby, creating the illusion the penny was now out. Billy was absolutely delighted. In a flash, he snatched it from his father’s hand, swallowed it, and demanded cheerfully, “Do it again, Dad!” Now, Dads, don’t try this stunt at home—these were professionals, I hope. But it does remind me of a Bill Cosby comedy routine. When his children were very young, they would expect their Dad to run, jump, climb, and carouse—all rather rambunctiously. Finally, after several minutes of intense workout and all was quite, the kid would say, “Heh, heh, heh—do it again, Dad.” So, dear old Dad would indeed “do it again,” only to be met with the same response—“Heh, heh, heh, do it again, Dad.” As Father’s Day, rapidly approaches, I would like us all to see that this is a most endearing quality of even Father God. Our heavenly Father relishes nothing more than to present us with His love and mercy—over and over again. Now, before I really get into this, I should probably point out a common and tragic misunderstanding here. Many today think along the lines of Universalism—since God is a loving God, therefore, all are automatically saved and He is now Father to us all. That is not what the Bible says. The Scriptures make clear that, while God is the Creator of one and all, He is not Father to one and all. He can only be in a Father / Child relationship with those who are born-again, that is, born from above. Jesus said it clearly in John 14:23-24—“If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me.” God is Father to Jesus, and He becomes ours as we repent of the sin that separates us from Him, and surrender to His Lordship and His Heart. Paul also put it very clearly: “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” (2 Cor. 5:17) That’s right—“Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God.” (John 3:3) Through faith in Jesus Christ, we become “adopted” into the “family,” and thereby, God becomes our Father. We are all His creation, but not all are His children—only those who are born of Him. OK, back to our main point—Father God, in His love for His children, is very willing to “do it again.” Over and over again, God reveals His love through creation, through His Law, through His prophets, and finally, through the coming of His own Son, Jesus the Christ. And even then, He is not done—Father God does it again. He also sent His Holy Spirit at Pentecost to live within those who desire to go deeper in their relationship with the Father. Jesus told His disciples, and all of us, for that matter, “And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you forever…which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” (John 14:16,26) And He isn’t even done yet, for that promise “is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.” (Acts 2:39) Throughout the past 2,000 years, when a child of God comes to Him for a closer walk and an ever-deepening relationship with the Father, He gives it, and, voila, Pentecost—a personal Pentecost! And not only does He promise to do it again and again, He reveals His loving and nurturing attitude towards His children numerous times throughout the Scriptures. Take, for example, Mark 6, where Jesus fed over 5,000 people with only five loaves and two fish. The first thing we notice is that Mark is a stickler for detail—or, more accurately, the Holy Spirit, who inspired the Word of God, is a stickler for detail. And all for an amazing purpose. No fewer than three times is it mentioned that this miracle took place in the desert. I believe that this is emphasized, at least in part, to get us to notice another incredible detail. When Jesus was about to multiply the tidbits of food into a lavish banquet, He ordered them to sit down on the “green grass.” (vs. 39) Is it merely an indication of Palestinian spring? No, it is far more than that. Is it prophetic evidence that the wilderness had begun to bring forth messianic bloom, as Isaiah proclaimed 700 years earlier, “The parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water: in the habitation of dragons, where each lay, shall be grass with reeds and rushes?” (35:7) Yes, it is, but that is only part of the picture. Look at the whole story in order to put together the whole picture. Mark 6:32 states, “And they departed into a desert place by ship privately.” This “deserted” place was right by the water. We can also surmise that the water would have been quite calm, a common experience in the evening hours. Verses 41 and 42 reveal, “And when He had taken the five loaves and the two fishes, He looked up in heaven, and blessed, and brake the loaves, and gave them to His disciples to set before them; and the two fishes divided He among them all. And they did all eat, and were filled.” In other words, there was plenty for everyone—no one lacked anything! Now, I already mentioned that the multitude sat down on the green grass in order to eat, but remember—in Jesus’ day, people didn’t just “sit” to eat, they reclined. And don’t forget the most tell-tale detail. Earlier in the story, we are told that, “Jesus, when He came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and He began to teach them many things.” (vs. 34) Jesus first restored their souls, and then He met their physical hunger. And all this happened on “green grass.” Do you see it? Put it all together, do the math—shepherd + having no lack + being beside the still water + reclining + green grass = what? Why, of course, it is the 23rd Psalm all over again. “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” The Lord had declared it centuries before through the psalmist, and now the heart of Father God is actually lived out in the life of Jesus. Do it again, Dad! On another day, Jesus fed more than 4,000 people in a very similar way. On the night of Jesus’ arrest, He broke the bread and shared the cup, giving His followers yet another physical expression of the heart of His Father. In Emmaus, immediately following His resurrection, Jesus broke the bread once again, revealing His true nature. Later, on the beach, He again fed His followers. Over and over and over again, manifesting His love, mercy, and grace, to one and all, Father God desires that all would be willing to see their need, receive of His hand, and be filled. This is no illusion, no palming of a penny—this is reality! This Father’s Day, look to the One who wants to be your loving Father. Many will try to say that because their earthly fathers didn’t exemplify the heart of Father God, that they can not see Him as Father. That is not true, and at best, an excuse. Remember—when you are born-again, you are made new and the old has passed away. The relationship He desires to have with you now is not based on, nor is it limited by, your relationship with your earthly father. Over and over again, Jesus has revealed His Father’s heart. Today is a new day—receive that heart and be filled. Dad, do it again! Copyright (c)
2005 Christ Our Rock Bible Church. |
