Mankind has met many challenges, and we have succeeded in overcoming many of them. We have scaled Mt Everest. We have landed on the Moon. We have created inventions and new technologies that men of the past could only dream of. However, there is one task that remains a noble challenge for any man till this day: Fatherhood.
To be able to raise children of his own, is one of the greatest joys a man can experience. At the same time, it is also one of the greatest challenges. Can any man frankly say that he has mastered the art of fatherhood? Yet, there is One who is undisputedly the greatest Father of all time, whom every man can look up to as an example of parenting. He is God.
The Preeminent Father
Every man has a father. His father had a father. If we trace man’s ancestry all the way to the beginning, we will find the first man, Adam. Who was Adam’s father? God! God is the One who created Adam, when He formed him from the dust and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life (Genesis 2:7). Hence, God can be said to be the Father of all humankind, because all men ultimately originated from God Himself!
Since God is the Father of all, we must acknowledge Him, and learn from Him. After all, He has fashioned us in his image and his likeness (Genesis 1:26-27). Furthermore, He is the source of all knowledge and wisdom (Proverbs 2:6). Therefore, in order to find true success in life, we must follow His instructions and commandments.
The Providing Father
One of the primary responsibilities of fatherhood is to provide for our children’s needs. What kind of father would a man be if he allows his children to go hungry and suffer? Beyond daily necessities, there is so much more that children need from their fathers: shelter, protection, education, and love. As a provider, God is once again unrivalled, because He provides for everything that we need. He provides for our daily sustenance (Matthew 6:11). He provides forgiveness from our wrong-doings (Matthew 6:12). He provides protection from evil (Matthew 6:13).
Since God is the great provider, we can go to God asking for anything that we need! (Matthew 7:7-11). As we go to God in prayer, we have this reassurance that God as a loving Father will hear our prayers and give to us what is best. There is none better to turn to than God, because we know that every perfect gift comes from God Himself (James 1:17).
The Personal Father
One of the greatest blessings of fatherhood is to be able to connect with our children on a personal level. We hope to develop a close bond and relationship with them, and to be there for them every step of their journey. Yet, this is a challenge also, because developing a personal relationship requires time and patience, which is hard to find in the midst of our busy and hectic schedules. Many a child has felt alone and disconnected from his parents. However, we are blessed to have a Father in Heaven who connects to us personally!
Christians have this blessing of having a personal relationship with our Father in Heaven. The day that we were baptized into the body of Christ, we became children of God, and now have the privilege of calling Him our Father (Galatians 3:27; 4:4-6). As children of God, we can go to God in prayer, pouring out our anxieties and worries, knowing that He cares for us (1 Peter 5:7). Furthermore, God is never disconnected from us, because no matter where we are, God is always near (Acts 17:27). What a blessing it is to have a Father who watches over us and listens to us through all our difficult times.
Christians are blessed to have a Father in Heaven. He is our preeminent Father, the originator of all life. He is our providing Father, who gives us everything we need. He is our personal Father, who connects with us, and cares for us. Would you like call Him your Father too?