"In My Father's Care"

 

We're living in crucial and critical times, a world where sin is running rampant; however, in this world we're living there is only One we can rely on, and that is our Heavenly Father. In Joshua 1:5, the Lord promises "No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life.  As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you."  It's good to know that we have the assurance that we are in Our Heavenly Father's Care.

 

As a child, I always had the utmost respect for my earthly father.  I felt that my father was the greatest dad in the universe.  He loved his children unconditionally, my father had little but he provided for us with the minimum resources that he had.  Dad taught us the essentials to life and he nurtured his children in the admonition of the Lord. Proverbs 22:6 says to "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it." Thank God, look at me now; I'm a living testimony.  My daddy would pray for us and he taught us how to pray and because of my dad's teachings we were led to church and to salvation. Ephesians 6:4 reads "Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord". Yes, dad chastised us in the midst of our shortcomings, but we knew he loved us regardless, his love was unquestionable. My dad has gone home to be with the Lord, but the PEARLS he instilled in us will be in my heart forever, PEARLS such as love, faith, goodness, kindness, meekness, generosity, and a sense of family values, etc.

 

Several decades have now passed since daddy passed from his earthly home to his Heavenly home with the Lord. I thank God for the role my dad played in my life.  I have now become a husband and a father myself. Earthly fatherhood didn't come easy, but praise to God who can do exceedingly, abundantly above all that we ask or think according to the power that works in us.  My wife and I experienced a stillborn baby, three miscarriages, the birth of a boy, and then experienced three more miscarriages.  Life brings us unexpected turns, but through it all, I've learned to trust in Jesus, I learned to trust in God. Thanks to God, I can now say that I am a father.  This one son has brought me joy unspeakable and not only can I plant seeds into my only son's life that my father planted into my life, but my wife and I can minister to others who have experienced the kind of loss we encountered and we can encourage them that their hope is built on nothing less than Jesus Blood and Righteousness.  On October 2, 2004, we traveled to the city to visit the minister who married my wife and I and was honored and privileged to have the minister to dedicate our child unto the Lord.

 

This reminds me of my Heavenly Father, that "He loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)  The Good News is that "While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us".  (Romans 5:8).  This is a wonderful Gift our Heavenly Father has given to us, this gift is a gift that our earthly father could only introduce to us and not give to us.

 

Fatherhood is precious, and fathers of our present generation must put on the "whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil." (Ephesians 6:11).  Our boys are in the need of fathers who will walk before them in the Spirit of God and guide them into all righteousness.  Many of our young men are searching for fathers that will offer genuine love. The world is daunting our children, both boys and girls and we as fathers must offer the loving care they need to help them deal with sin in times like these.

 

We're living perilous times, in times like these our boys need Men of God that will be fathers to them. We live in a world where Men of God must stand when all else fails. We live in a world where Men of God must be about our Fathers business to make a difference in the lives of our children.  If not now, then when?  If not you, then who?

 

My dad is gone now, and I still have ups and downs, daggers that are taunted at me, disappointments, joys and sorrows,  Oh how I miss my dad and often wish I could talk to him for guidance, but somehow I am comforted in knowing that I am in my Heavenly Father's care.   Once we can come to realize who is in control, we can have peace within, knowing that all our cares and help comes from above.

 

Obstacles and challenges will come to all of us, but we must realize that our Heavenly Father has our back. Once we know that we are in our Father's care, there is nothing that is impossible.  Daddy is no longer here with me today, I know I'm in my Heavenly Father's care.

 

Written By: Dr. D.L. Grant, Sr.

Pastor, Chapel Hill & New Israel Baptist Churches

Moderator, Jerusalem Baptist Association of Georgetown County, SC

Recording Secretary, NBCA