Everlasting FatherSpeaker: Dr. D.G.S. Dhinakaran Gist: In the world, today, people are hungry for love. One day or the other, we will close our eyes. But our Everlasting Father Jesus says, 'Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age'. About nine hundred years before the birth of Jesus Christ, the prophet Isaiah, by the prompting of the Holy Spirit, prophetically baptised Him with several names. One of them was "Everlasting Father". Addressing the prophet Moses, the Lord said, "I am who I am" (Exodus 3:14). The Almighty Jehovah said of Himself from time to time: "I live forever" (Deuteronomy 32:40; Revelations 1:18; 4:10). "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End" (Revelations 1:8, 11; 21:5; 22:13). "I am the First and the Last. I am He who lives" (Revelations 1:17, 18; Isaiah 41:4; 44:6; 48:12).
That is why the Bible says that when Jesus Christ was born in this world, He came as the brightness of God's glory, as the express image of the invisible God (Colossians 1:15, 16; Hebrews 1:3). That is why the prophet Isaiah said that Jesus Himself, who was to be born as the brightness of God's glory, shall be the Eternal Father.
Most of us very much love our earthly father. In 1969, both my lungs were damaged and for four months, I was confined to bed. I was skin and bone and on the threshold of death. Doctors had said that at the most, I might have 30 days of grace. Every evening on returning from school, my son would come and sit by my side. One day, he asked me a series of questions, "Daddy! When will you get up from bed? When will you become hale and healthy? When will you be healed and come to my school?" And he broke into tears. It broke my heart and I too began to cry. It was then that Jesus appeared to me in a vision and healed me.
However, our earthly fathers would not live with us forever. Further, human love varies from time to time. That is why the Lord said, "I have loved you with an everlasting love" (Jeremiah 31:3). His love is everlasting. He alone lives forever. Jesus Christ also said, "He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die" (John 11:25,26). When His earthly race is run, He will go and live with His Father in heaven. Because He is our Everlasting Father, eternally alive, we need not be disheartened. He has a heart sure and steady as an anchor, not fickle and toyish as our human hearts. He is ever with us as Immanuel.
"But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name." (John 1:12)
All that you have to do is to open the door of your heart and invite Jesus to come in. Then you should have faith that He has come in (Galatians 3:26). How wonderful is the promise! "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me" (Revelations 3:20).
Once you have accepted Jesus and have been washed in His blood, it is very essential to live a life cut off from those wallowing in sin. That is what the Lord Jesus desires. Once you have come to Him, you cannot go to the wine shop to please your friend. You cannot smoke.
"Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you. If anyone's work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire. Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?" (1 Corinthians 3:16, 17; 6:19,20). After receiving God's salvation, you should keep yourself pure (1 Timothy 5:22). If you are mindful of this, Jesus adopts you as His own child, with the right to call Him, "Abba, Father!" (Romans 8:15-17). Having addressed Him as "Lord, God!" so long, you begin calling Him spontaneously as "Father!"
One day, my wife and I were conversing in a friend's house at Kottayam. A young girl about 19 years old rushed into the room and kneeling before us, began to narrate her tale of woe: "Sir, I am an orphan! There is none in this world to show me love. Tuning the radio one day, I heard your message. It was so full of love and concern. From that moment, I said to myself, 'This man is my father. How great is his love for others!' Hearing that you are now in this town, I came running here." She tightly held both my hands and wept profusely. I used to recall this incident everyday and cry out. In the world, today, people are hungry for love. My wife and I would not live forever. One day or the other, we will close our eyes. But our Everlasting Father Jesus says, "Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:20).
His love is changeless and everlasting! He is also everlasting.
Prayer:
Loving Heavenly Father,
Many a time, I am forsaken by all my near and dear ones. There is no one to care for me or to love me. I thank You for being ever mindful of me. You are there to comfort and sustain me during the painful times of facing many trials and tribulations. Help me to be humble before You and before others. Give me a heart filled with love, care and compassion. I give You all the glory. In Jesus matchless name, I pray.
Amen. |