MY FAITHFUL AND PERFECT FATHER

“OUR GOD and FATHER, who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace” – 2 Thessalonians 2: 16b

GOD is MY FAITHFUL and PERFECT FATHER: “Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our GOD and FATHER, who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace, comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work” (2 The.2:16-17). The experiential revelation of the Fatherhood of God is one thing that can strengthen and safeguard us from the antichrist evils of the last days as captured in today’s text.

The title “Father” is a unique feature in the teachings of Jesus, especially John’s Gospel; he reveals God as Father. But there is a distinction between God as our Creator and as Father to the believer. As Creator, He is Father to all people (Eph.4:6); but Spiritual Father only to Believers in Christ (Rom.8:14; 2Cor.6:18; Eph.3:14-15). The Lord Jesus says: “No one comes to the Father but through Me” (Jh.14:6).

Although God modelled Fatherhood for humanity to follow, not everyone has had a positive testimony with their fathers. There are deadbeat dads who walk out on their families, offering only neglect instead of care. Some children have never met their fathers. Or, worse, some wish they had never met them. The world is plagued with poor examples of fathers who abuse, abandon, or neglect their families – known more for their irresponsibility than living up to their calling. Sour stories abound, of absent fathers, abusive fathers, emotionally distant fathers, and demanding or controlling fathers, all of which negatively impact our perception of our Heavenly Father. Thus, many have found it difficult to accept God as their Father!

On my part, I can testify that God is my Faithful and Perfect Father. His faithfulness far exceeds that of even the best parents. Parents may forsake us, the Lord never will: “When my father and mother forsake me, then the LORD will take care of me” (Psa.27:10). It is likely in life’s course for parents to die and “forsake” their children. But there is a Father who never forsakes, as He never dies! Psalm 68:5 calls Him “a father of the fatherless, a defender of widows”! That means: The Lord longs to adopt all those who have experienced the pain of abandonment by earthly fathers, and does so through the gospel. “As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him” (Psa.103: 13, NIV).

God is our Perfect Father: “Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your FATHER in heaven is PERFECT” (Mt.5:48). His ways are “perfect” (Psa.18:30); and He is a “faithful God who does no wrong,” and is “upright and just“(Dt. 32:4, NIV). He fills a painful vacuum of love for all whose earthly fathers have forsaken them. Our heavenly Father loves us just as much as He loves His Son, Jesus Christ. So, we have no reason to harbour another anxious thought or rebellious attitude toward Him. He will not let us lack anything good in His divine will: “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want” (Psa.23:1). He blesses us maximally: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ” (Eph.1:3). He gives us His best (Mt.7:11; Lk.11:13; 12:28-32; Rom.8:32).

God’s intention in calling Himself Father is to reveal His heart’s desire for a real relationship with us, His children. My Lord Jesus came to reveal the LORD God as such (Mt.6: 24-33; 11:27; Jh.14:7-9). We all need His unconditional love and affirmation. He loves us in a way that no human can ever love us, with ferocity and faithfulness that no human love can match. It is absolutely safe to put our trust in our perfect Father.

Abba, Father! I am not an orphan! Having been chosen, adopted and positioned as God’s son in His family, I trust Him absolutely to fulfil His responsibilities as my caring Father. Even when I don’t seem to know what He is doing, in love, I can rely on who He is – my loving, Faithful, and Perfect Father!