“My Father”

"My Father"   

    I cannot say I knew my earthly father.  Glen C. Davis Sr. passed away in August, 1959 at the age of 37 (a day after his birthday, in fact).  I was only 2 years old at the time.  Thus, my dad and I had little time to really get to know one another.  I only have one memory of him, involving an episode of necessary and painful discipline he properly carried out that remains with me until this day.  To be honest, I'm not really sure whether it's an actual memory, or if perhaps I simply recall a family member's recounting to me of the event.  Either way, I have no other conscious memories of my father.  I really didn't know him, although I am sure his legacy remains with me always.

   "I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be My sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty" (II Corinthians 6:17-18).

   I rejoice to be able to say, by God's good grace, that I do know our Heavenly Father.  His Spirit, His Word, and a faithful friend who already knew the Lord as Father led me to faith in the Son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ, in September, 1975.  Such loving mercy birthed a relationship, an eternally ongoing bond of love that constitutes the very life of all who trust in the Lord Jesus.  "This is life eternal, that they might know Thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom Thou hast sent" (John 17:3).  I could not explain it in the day such grace began, nor do I presently have words to fully expound the wonder of the gift even after more than four decades.  I can only testify, as you can, dear reader, that in the moment long ago when I trusted in the Son, I met Somebody.  I met a Father that I didn't know before, and who I rejoice to say I will know for an eternity.  "Thou art my Father" (Psalm 89:26).

   I've learned many things about our Heavenly Father over the course of the years, both by the hearing of the ears, as it were, and the experience of the heart.  Before proceeding, allow me to admit that I could have known so much more about Him than I do.  I've wasted a lot of time and opportunity in the knowledge of God, and still find myself too often distracted from the Life of my life.  However, I do know some things about Him, things of His love that include goodness, greatness, grace, mercy, peace, righteousness, holiness, power, light, truth, purity, chastening, and purpose.  The list could go on and on regarding the wonders of His love, and thankfully for an eternity, they will go on and on.  However, if I could only testify of one attribute of our Father discovered in my time with Him, my answer would instantly come forth from an amazed heart.

   "Great is Thy faithfulness!" (Lamentations 3:23).

   Of all the qualities that fill, fulfill, and thrill me about the God and Father of our Lord Jesus, the devotion of His faithful heart most leads me to my knees and raises me up to "lift up mine eyes to the hills, from which cometh my help" (Psalm 121:1).  My Father and yours has never once failed me or you, nor will He ever do so.  He will never leave us. He will never cease being our Father.  He will never neglect to do for us and within us that which we need Him to accomplish on our behalf.  He will never be to us other than who He is, and His holy character, nature, and way will be ours to joyfully discover for an eternity.  Or, as we often suggest in these messages, no one has ever trusted in the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ and been disappointed for doing so.  And no one ever will.  His way is perfect because His heart is perfect, and faithfulness flows in and from Him as an inexhaustible fountain of perfect devotion to all who lift up their eyes unto the hills.  "He that believeth on Him shall not be confounded" (I Peter 2:6).

   Perhaps this quality of my Heavenly Father most amazes me because my earthly father was unable, because of human weakness, to fulfill his role of fatherhood in my life.  I never really knew him, although I am grateful for him, and for the many good things I've heard about him.  Again, however, I do know my Heavenly Father.  And again, if I could tell of one glorious feature and facet of His fathering of me, I would say it as clearly, as succinctly, as surely, as confidently, and as loudly as I could: God is faithful.  He can be trusted at all times, and in all things, in all places, in all blessings, and in all challenges with all our hearts.  He will not fail us because He cannot fail us.  A perfect Heart and a perfect Hand ensures this wondrous glory of grace, truth, and mercy as known in our Father's Son, the Lord Jesus.  I have learned this in these years, I hope to learn more in this day, and I know that an eternity awaits in the ongoing discovery of our good and great and glorious Father.

There is a Heart, so faithful and true.

It bears a scar, for me and for you.

And we can know for a lifetime through,

it's faithful and true, faithful and true,

faithful and true.

There is a grace that makes all things new,

born in that valley our Lord passed through.

Where He was smitten for me and for you,

so faithful and true, faithful and true,

faithful and true.

Forever draws nigh, we'll see His face soon

shining in glory, so lovely the view.

And the glad anthem of our hearts will ensue,

so faithful and true, faithful and true,

faithful and true.

"And the heavens shall praise Thy wonders, O LORD: Thy faithfulness also in the congregation of the saints."

(Psalm 89:5)

Weekly Memory Verse

   Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work, to speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men.

(Titus 3:1-2)