Happy Father's Day

I was listening to a Christian radio station the other morning on the way to work and a lady happened to call in talking about Father's Day weekend. She spoke of the fact that she was a single mom and that her children have grown up thus far without a continual father figure in their lives. I thought it was sad, but was thanking God in my soul that, for sure, the topic was about to veer into the spiritual realm, speaking of,you know, God. But, it did not. The DJ on the radio show apparently bore witness with the caller, proclaiming that she was also a single mother with several children. With the absolute perfect opportunity for the DJ to reflect the Gospel, doors wide open to not only the lady on the phone, but particularly, all single moms listening in the entire city, she went in a completely different direction. The DJ proceeded to speak about "all of the men" in her children's lives that represent a "father figure" to them. Confusion immediately set in for me. I asked myself, "Let me get this straight, this is a 'Christian' radio station (mind you, I understand the entirely liberal nature of these programs), speaking of 'fatherhood' on "Father's Day weekend", from the single motherhood perspective and instead of talking about true fatherhood in Christ, we are now talking about "several men" representing a father figure to these children? Worst of all, the fact that these men were either Godly or not was not mentioned.

First, I would like to clear a few things up. Coming from an unbelieving, divorced family, with a single mother, I have firsthand experience with this situation (as do many people these days). From what I know, it seems that the worst possible thing to speak about, if you are a single mother, is the fact that your children have a "father figure" from "several" men. The concept confuses me as a twenty-five year old, young professional. I can imagine how confused these children must be, regardless of age or maturity. There would seemingly never be any consistency in not only the relationships between these children and the men, but also the children and mother. It seems like an excuse for the mother to "do something" while she is possibly on the way to being married again (or for the first time). But, that should be her goal, if she is a Godly (saved) woman (It is not my place or goal to speak of or reflect the situations as to why these women are single in this particular post; that is another time). For the sake of her children, she should train them up as God-fearing children, as she reflects her Godly character.

Second, the whole purpose of this story is to demonstrate The Gospel of how God becomes our Father. Even in seasoned married homes (as I realize this is an amazing blessing and means of God's Grace), mother's, father's and children are all sinners. We have all fallen short of God's perfect standard (Romans 3:23). Jesus demonstrates and proves to us over and over again in the Gospels of just who we are. He reveals Himself to the Samaritan woman at the well (where, at this time in culture, Jews and Samaritans are enemies and men did not speak to women).

"The woman said to Him, "Sir, give me this water, that I may not thirst, nor come here to draw." Jesus said to her, "Go, call your husband, and come here." The woman answered and said, "I have no husband." Jesus said to her, "You have well said, 'I have no husband,' "for you have had five husbands, and the one whom you now have is not your husband; in that you spoke truly." The woman said to Him, "Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet. Our fathers worshiped on the mountain, and you Jews say that in Jerusalem is the place where one ought to worship." Jesus said to her. "Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father. You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth." The woman said to Him, "I know that Messiah is coming" (who is called Christ). When he comes, He will tell us all things." Jesus said to her, "I who speak to you an He."
John 4:15-26

If God is our Father, then Jesus Christ has revealed Himself to us as The Messiah. Whether we grew up in a Christian home, have a divorced family, or have foster parents, we (God's elect) are all adopted individually at the very moment of our conversion. When we know that Christ is the Messiah, not a but The Messiah, the One who came to save sinners, then only at that moment is when we recognize where we have fallen infinitely short in every area of our lives. In this case, Jesus reminded this Samaritan woman of her overall sinfulness by bringing up her unrepentant relationships with men. It was most likely the most sore subject of her entire life being reminded that, although she thought she had something, without Christ, she had nothing. Or, being at the well, where there was physical water to draw, she was dead and bone dry in her soul without the Living Water, who is Christ (v. 13,14).

What we "Christians" fail to realize most of the time is that anything God-honoring or Christ-exalting coming from us, really comes from Him. Any righteousness that we have, is really Jesus' righteousness. And the only true Father we have, or will ever have for that matter, is our Abba Father. It is our Heavenly Father. Because of our sin, we don't even realize the substitutes we have every day, for our Heavenly Father, who delivers us from our sins. In the spiritual sense, we are just like the two ladies on the radio, talking about every other father while failing to mention the only Father we have for eternity.

"He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worth of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who find his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it." Matthew 10:37-39

Come and drink from the Living Water, our perfectly loving, forgiving and everlasting Father.