Today we celebrate Father’s Day and remember the importance of being fathers. It is not easy to be a godly father in this present climate of greed and secularism. It is hard to be different to the world in being a parent that brings honour and glory to God. But this is exactly what fathers must do. They are given the amazing task of raising up their children in the ways of the Lord. This is a tough call but it is one that must be pursued by all fathers who carry the name Christian. I believe that it is of utmost importance that the men of Grace International Congregation band together as godly men to encourage one another to be God honoring fathers. Our men need to make tough decisions and choices as they walk with their children down the narrow path that leads to eternal life. Therefore I urge all to pray for them to consider matters of ‘eternal significance’ rather than the shortsightedness of the temporal.
Our walk through the gospel of John provides us with a wonderful framework in preparing for the eternal life that awaits all who follow Jesus. We have been given so much evidence as to the authenticity of Jesus in the first eight chapters that we have considered over these past couple of months. Surely this evidence provides us with great confidence as to who we place our trust in. We have heard testimonies about what Jesus has done as He turned water into wine; healed an official’s son; provided living water to a Samaritan woman; healed an invalid; fed five thousand people; walked on water and the list goes on. He has balanced powerful teaching with miraculous works. He has made incredibly important statements about Himself such ‘I am the bread of life’ and ‘I am the light of the world’. He has told people that He and the Father are one. He has stated that if you believe in Him you will have eternal life. These are staggering claims to be sure – but they are true!
So what has all this to do with me and you? So what? If Jesus is who He says He is, then we need to respond in the way He says we are to respond. We need to accept His rescue. We need to believe! And with this belief we are to commit ourselves to Him totally and follow Him wherever He may lead us. Walking with Jesus takes one to new adventures and challenges. We will live out a life like His. He loved His Father so much. This love called Him to submit to His Father in all things. His Father even sent Him on a mission to planet earth. As we believe Him, and place our total trust in Him, our life will take on new meaning. It will be a life worth living. It will be a life seeking to bring glory to God His Father! It will be a life of discovery; a life requiring courage; a life that brings with it many blessings and sometimes difficulties. Jesus is the light of the world and as we believe in Him we see and experience things that we have never seen before or never believed was possible. What a joy it is, not only know Jesus, but to be in Him!