I can’t say I’m a perfect father by any stretch of the imagination. But, I can definitely say that being a father has given me a whole new perspective on the heart of God.
I used to have the perspective that God WAS very loving....but that he was also very demanding and that He would not hesitate to strike if He felt that you were operating below His standard. It’s a pretty harsh view of God and definitely one that doesn’t include a lot of “mercy”. But it was consistent with the attitudes and fears about God that I picked up from many of the Christians I was around.
In other words, some things aren’t ‘taught’; they’re ‘caught’.
Then I became a father.
We had our youngest son just a little under two years ago. Even though I’d gone through it before nine years earlier, I was still in awe of how unprepared I was for the emotions. I remember how amazing it was to hold Easton in my arms.
In fact, if you could watch the video of his first few minutes of life, I could barely do anything but laugh. Absolutely giddy with delight that my son was finally here and I was holding him. It’s funny to go back and watch now. The laughter just kept bubbling out of me!
I’ve learned more about love in the delivery room than I ever have in church, Bible college or my own study time.
And, time hasn’t done much to dilute the feeling, either. I still sneak into the boys’ rooms at night and watch them sleep. Tuck them in when they don’t know it. In Easton’s room, I’ll stand over his crib and watch him sleep. If his covers are kicked off, I’ll pull them up. If the room is too cold, I’ll turn off his ceiling fan. I’ll rub his hair. And every night since he’s been here I always whisper “Good night buddy, I love you” even though he doesn’t hear it and wouldn’t know what it meant if he could.
Every once in a while, I’ll hear a story about some father killing his child. It’s one of the few things that can get such an immediate emotional reaction out of me. It’s literally out of my comprehension how a man could do that. I can’t fathom any father rejecting his own child.
In fact, if you’re a parent, you’re probably nodding along with me. But, I’ll ask: could you destroy your own child? Could you turn your back on your own child and refuse to ever see them again?
Of course, if you could, then it’s probably not disturbing to think that God could do the same to His creation. If that’s a little offensive, it’s worth asking yourself seriously what that means about God.
See, I believe that no matter how much I love my sons....no matter how my heart fills with joy to see them living, breathing, laughing, talking, playing and growing.....no matter how my love is unrelated to their behavior.....
....I believe God’s love for us makes me look like a wimp. I’m a lousy, lousy parent compared to God.
I didn’t really agree with much of Jerry Falwell’s theology but someone once asked him what he’d do if his son were gay. He said, “I’d tell him homosexuality is wrong. But nothing would make me reject my children. I would tell him that I loved him and he could go on back to his bedroom. You live here. You’re my son. What I have is yours.” (paraphrased)
I feel the same way. And I think God is even more gracious than me or Jerry Falwell. I believe He loves us more perfectly than I love mine. I know how much I love my children, so I’m absolutely staggered by how much God loves us.
So, being a parent has completely changed my perspective of how God deals with His creation. And it’s caused me to reject some of the long-held beliefs about how He supposedly deals with His creation.
I’m convinced that God has no higher commitment than His love for us. The Bible doesn’t say that God can be loving...or that He wants to be loving if you’ll let Him....or that He’s often loving...or that He’s usually loving....
...it says that God IS love.
Period. End of story.
How cool is that?
Tony
