Day 2: The Way To The Father
Jesus answered him,
“I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.” (John 14:6-7)
I remember when we were trying to have our first child. I came home with a bottle of orange juice and a rose. I told my wife that I was ready to have a baby. The rose was to commemorate the moment. The orange juice was to make sure she started to get her folic acid, as I heard this was important. Well, almost six years later, Daddy had shined down upon us with His glory and we were pregnant. I remember knowing we were pregnant before my wife knew. This has happened with all our kids. Therefore, I was not shocked. My wife on the other hand, was very shocked. We came home from eating pizza and decided to take, “the test.” I was on the computer in the other room and she came out of the bathroom with her jaw dragging on the floor. All I can remember saying is, “I told you!”
As all good biology students know, we had to wait another 9 months of doctor visits and body changes. Then that faithful day came upon us. I remember taking a picture of my wife and I. We were holding hands while she pushed. It still is one of my favorite pictures for what it represents, this journey of waiting and trying and accomplishing this moment together. Next thing I knew I was holding this beautiful baby girl in my arms. Now after almost seven years of waiting, I could finally tell that little baby girl of my love for her to her face. I could kiss her head and shower her with our love. Nevertheless, I must say I was not overwhelmed with emotions. Why, you ask? Easy, I loved her with all I was from the moment I knew. I will go as far as saying, even from conception. I loved her even before my wife knew. My love for her was complete upon knowing. That little girl just did not understand what was waiting for her until she entered the world. Now that she is getting older, the fullness of my love is finally being understood. When you can feel something become a part of you before you even see it; then you know that you know something has changed something beautiful. In the same way, the love of our Daddy can be better understood. God’s love for you was complete when He knew you would be you. When He held your spirit within Him, being warmed and incubated to life with His love.
The journey may seem long, but it is worth it. Just like understanding the Fatherhood of our God. This includes accepting that He is our Daddy. Before we knew, He knew. Before we could say, “I love you” to him, He was speaking “I love you” to us. Yet now this is a family affair. All of us are born into the family with a big brother, so to speak. Jesus is our brother as we read in the Bible, “For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother.” (Mar 3:35) You see our Daddy desires family. He desires a unity of presence. This can only be found in being of the same substance and purpose. Let us read, “God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;” (Heb 1:1-3) You see as my wife, our daughter and I are one; The Father and Son are one. Being of the same substance and purpose, they are in unity.
Just like a pregnancy, we grow towards the fullness of understanding of our Daddy’s love and His presence. Reading from 2 Corinthians 6:16b we understand the greatness of His plan. It says, “…for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.” According to Acts 2:38, we are the temple of God when we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior. “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” In addition, we continue, “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?” (1Co 3:16) This is not the end of the process or birthing of the new life, if you will. It is the first of many steps to knowing our Daddy’s love. That same substance and purpose that brings unity in the Godhead, or Family of God, begins the perfect work of the Father. The indwelling of the Holy Spirit helps you to become more like your Daddy. Under the Lordship of Jesus, the transformation into the image of your Father begins. Slowly but surely, the process of birthing moves forward to that great day. We read, “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.” (1Jn 3:1-2)
We will be like Him; we will be of His substance. One day we will be fully birthed into His presence, finally being able to experience His Love completely. In 1 Timothy 6:13-16 we are told, “I give thee charge in the sight of God…..who only hath immortality,” Only God is immortal. That which is mortal or can die, cannot stand in the presence of immortality. The corrupted cannot be mixed with the incorruptible. You see, “For the wages of sin is death: but the gift of God is eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Rom 6:23) To fully experience and enjoy our Daddy’s love we must be made of His substance, be like Him, and be Immortal. This will happen for those who call upon the name of Jesus. “In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.” (1Co 15:52-53)
My daughter could not be with us until the birthing process was complete. It was impossible for her to understand our love for her. She did not comprehend the care and efforts made to take care of her until that day came. Just like in this journey to understand our Daddy’s love. Our understanding is very fragile. It is almost as if we are holding but two pieces of a 1000 piece puzzle. One of the pieces has written on it, “Sin through disobedience brings death and without help we will die.” The other piece has written on it, “There is hope, and that God, our Daddy sent his Son to make a way.” The longer we walk with Him and the more time we spend together, the more pieces we receive. Some do not bother to continue; some only see half the picture and give up. For those who patiently wait, one day you will see the portrait of your Daddy’s love. The life of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will reveal to you the masterpiece. He is the key to seeing the puzzle being knitted together. When it is finished, you will see Your Daddy holding you in His arms with your head buried into His chest. Do not give up now see the masterpiece completed!
“Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:6-11)
~We Shall Be Like Him – 1 John 3:2~