THE BEST FATHER EVER
Today, of course, is Father’s Day. It used to imply something that is no longer the case in this country. In the past, the fathers who were being honored were assumed to be married to a female wife who was the bearer of their children. But today, that assumption seems to no longer apply. Too many fathers are absent from the mothers of their children. Many of these fathers have abandoned their children as well. In other words, these fathers have shirked their role as the head of a family unit. A new study entitled, “The Nationwide Study on Faith and Relationships,” identifies these failing fathers as a primary reason for the decline of the Christian faith in America today. As fathers have abandoned their responsibilities, many marriages have collapsed as well. Equally unfortunate is the fact that a large segment of our population has mis-formed family units where the father and mother choose never to commit to themselves as husband and wife. This study found this dire situation so prevalent in our society that “less than half of all adults under 30 today [have grown up] in a home with married parents.” The research attributed the decline in church attendance to this rather alarming statistic. The study concluded that, until more fathers step up to the plate and become actively engaged with their families, we will continue to see a decline of the Christian faith and morals throughout America.
One of the leaders of the study laments: “We’ve never spent more money in the history of the church to transmit our faith to our young people, and yet they're falling away at higher and higher numbers. The reason for the decline in faith is unpacked in the study; that the absence of a married home where dad is warmly engaged in the life of his child is the cause of the fire that is the source of the reason fewer and fewer people believe. . . It shouldn't surprise us that when the human analog of marriage and the family breaks down, it's a lot harder for a young person to understand that there's a Father in Heaven, ‘who so loved [them] that He sent His only Son to die for [them].’ This becomes difficult when someone has never been able to relate to a dad in a healthy way, [or] if they hate their dad [and] have a difficult relationship with [him]. . . [And yet, this is] a great opportunity to advance the Gospel [where] churches can become schools of love.” [1]
But, in order to become “schools of love,” as this study suggests, we need to do more than merely focus on being “good fathers.” Rather, our attention must be directed toward the “BEST FATHER.” So, let’s look to the Bible for a couple of examples of what this “BEST FATHER” is like. First, let’s turn to Luke 15. It reads as follows:
11 To illustrate the point, Jesus told them this story: “A man had two sons. 12 The younger son told his father, ‘I want my share of your estate now before you die.’ So his father agreed to divide his wealth between his sons. 13 “A few days later this younger son packed all his belongings and moved to a distant land, and there he wasted all his money in wild living. 14 About the time his money ran out, a great famine swept over the land, and he began to starve. 15 He persuaded a local farmer to hire him, and the man sent him into his fields to feed the pigs. 16 The young man became so hungry that even the pods he was feeding the pigs looked good to him. But no one gave him anything. 17 “When he finally came to his senses, he said to himself, ‘At home even the hired servants have food enough to spare, and here I am dying of hunger! 18 I will go home to my father and say, “Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, 19 and I am no longer worthy of being called your son. Please take me on as a hired servant.”’ 20 “So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him. 21 His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son.’ 22 “But his father said to the servants, ‘Quick! Bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him. Get a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet. 23 And kill the calf we have been fattening. We must celebrate with a feast, 24 for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.’ So the party began. 25 “Meanwhile, the older son was in the fields working. When he returned home, he heard music and dancing in the house, 26 and he asked one of the servants what was going on. 27 ‘Your brother is back,’ he was told, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf. We are celebrating because of his safe return.’ 28 “The older brother was angry and wouldn’t go in. His father came out and begged him, 29 but he replied, ‘All these years I’ve slaved for you and never once refused to do a single thing you told me to. And in all that time you never gave me even one young goat for a feast with my friends. 30 Yet when this son of yours comes back after squandering your money on prostitutes, you celebrate by killing the fattened calf!’ 31 “His father said to him, ‘Look, dear son, you have always stayed by me, and everything I have is yours. 32 We had to celebrate this happy day. For your brother was dead and has come back to life! He was lost, but now he is found!’” Luke 15:11-32 (NLT2)
Now, we all know that Jesus was giving us a parable here. It’s the one we call the Parable of the Prodigal Son. The younger son, the older son and the father are fictional characters. But, we can safely say that the father depicted here is the “BEST FATHER.” Why is that? Well, it’s because He offered grace to the younger son. “Grace” means giving someone something good even though they don’t deserve to get it. The younger son dishonored his father. He turned his back on everything his father stood for. In effect, the younger son abandoned his father’s way of life and adopted a worldly lifestyle that his father abhorred. So, when the younger son came upon hard times and eventually “came to his senses,” he realized just how far he’d fallen. He humbly admitted that he was “no longer worthy of being called [the father’s] son.” Without question, he was right in saying that. When the younger son finally approached home and showed up on the horizon, the father had every right to send a servant out to turn him away. That is what the younger son deserved. But, as I said, the father didn’t give him what he deserved. The father exercised grace and gave him some things he least deserved. The father ran out and welcomed him back. He gave him the finest of robes. He had an expensive ring placed upon his finger and stylish sandals fitted on his feet. And then, to top it all off, the father invited this once-errant son back into the house and threw a big party where there was a great celebration! In addition, we can see that, with the father’s amazing grace, came forgiveness as well. The BEST FATHER will do that when one humbly repents—as this wayward, yet reformed, younger son did.
Now, let’s look in the Old Testament for an example of the BEST FATHER. Turning to Genesis 22, we find the following: 1 “God tested Abraham’s faith. ‘Abraham!’ God called. ‘Yes,’ he replied. ‘Here I am.’ 2 ‘Take your son, your only son—yes, Isaac, whom you love so much—and go to the land of Moriah. Go and sacrifice him as a burnt offering on one of the mountains, which I will show you.’” Genesis 22:1-2 (NLT2) Abraham never questioned God. In faith, he simply did as he was told. As he and Isaac approached the place God appointed for the sacrifice, the Scripture tells us: 7 “Isaac turned to Abraham and said, ‘Father?’ ‘Yes, my son?’ Abraham replied. ‘We have the fire and the wood,’ the boy said, ‘but where is the sheep for the burnt offering? 8 ‘God will provide a sheep for the burnt offering, my son,’ Abraham answered. . . 9b Then he tied his son, Isaac, and laid him on the altar on top of the wood. 10 And Abraham picked up the knife to kill his son as a sacrifice. 11 At that moment the angel of the LORD called to him from heaven, ‘Abraham! Abraham!’ ‘Yes,’ Abraham replied. ‘Here I am!’ 12 ‘Don’t lay a hand on the boy!’ the angel said. ‘Do not hurt him in any way, for now I know that you truly fear God. You have not withheld from Me even your son, your only son.’” Genesis 22: 6-12 (NLT2)
Now, considering these two passages—one from Luke in the New Testament, and the other from Genesis in the Old Testament—who is the BEST FATHER? It’s not Abraham as presented in this passage from Genesis 22. And, it’s not a fictional father as in the Parable of the Prodigal Son found in Luke 15. Rather, it’s the One Faithful Father who is present in both of these Old and New Testament passages. You see, in Jesus’ parable, the “father” represents God. The younger son represents many of us who have strayed away from God, and yet are the beneficiaries of His grace. And, in the scripture about Abraham and Isaac, the BEST FATHER is also God. Do you know why? It is because the story about Abraham and Isaac points to John 3:16 which tells us: “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 (NIV)
Whereas, God spared Abraham’s son, Isaac, from being a sacrifice, God did not spare His own Son, Jesus Christ. God sent an angel to grab the hand of Abraham before the knife came down into Isaac’s chest. But, God sent no angel to still the hands of the Roman soldiers whose hammers drove nails into the hands and feet of Jesus, pinning Him to the Cross. Only God the Father—the BEST FATHER EVER—would do something like that for you and for me. You see, the BEST FATHER is not only filled with grace, mercy and forgiveness, He is also filled with LOVE as well. God is filled with so much LOVE for you that He sent His own Son to die as a sacrifice for the sins of all those Prodigal Sons and Daughters like us. All you have to do is to humbly return from that “distant land” that’s filled with the world’s wickedness.
I could never understand why the older son in the parable behaved as he did. The father in the parable offered him the opportunity to come into the “house” and celebrate. He too could have had a fine robe, a golden ring and a brand-new pair of sandals. But, the older son refused them. He stayed “outside the house.” The “house,” of course, symbolizes the Kingdom of Heaven. And, the “party” represents the state of absolute joy in store for those who opt to come into God’s Kingdom. There, they will dwell eternally with the BEST FATHER OF ALL! But, the older son flat-out turned down that amazing opportunity. The tragic thing is he represents so many today who make that same eternally fatal decision.
When I think about the older son in the parable, I remember when I was in law school studying constitutional law. There was this really old case that went to the Supreme Court involving a man named George Wilson. Back in 1829, Wilson robbed a mail carrier and, in the process, put the mail carrier’s life in grave danger. When Wilson was finally caught and tried, he was sentenced to be hanged. However, before he could be executed, President Andrew Jackson granted Wilson a pardon. The strange thing is that Wilson refused to accept the pardon. Well, nobody knew what to do about this: Should they hang him or not? The case ended up on appeal to the Supreme Court.[2] There, Justice John Marshall issued the ruling that a pardon can be granted, but it does not become effective unless the condemned criminal accepts the pardon. In other words, Justice Marshall was saying that, “You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink.” The Supreme Court concluded that, if George Wilson refused to accept his pardon, then he must be hanged! And so, rather than accept a gracious pardon and the life it offered, Wilson chose to be executed! It is hard to believe anyone would make such a terrible choice! Like the older son in the parable who refused his father’s invitation to come in the “house and celebrate,” Wilson chose death instead of life.
Now, you might say that someone would have to be insane to make such a choice. Well, if that is the case, then there must be a lot of “insane” people walking around today. The Bible teaches that, “The the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23 (NLT2) God pardons all sinners who repent and take advantage of the pardon offered by Jesus’ sacrifice on the Cross. And yet, so many continue along the same “insane” path of the older brother and of George Wilson. They refuse eternal life and opt for eternal death. They reject an open path to Heaven and continue on the road to Hell. It’s just plain crazy!
Now, you may think that your past is so bad that you are beyond being pardoned. If so, then you need to think again. Various historical reports of the George Wilson matter fail to pick up on the fact that Wilson’s scheduled execution date apparently lingered for years. And, as time went on, Wilson—like the younger, prodigal son—“came to his senses.” He eventually received another pardon from President Van Buren that he had the good sense to accept, and he was released from prison in 1841.[3] The pardon offered by Jesus’ work on the Cross is always open to those who will accept its terms. And, the terms are simple: Repent and be “born again” in Christ.
Considering all of this, I think that the recent “Nationwide Study on Faith and Relationships” got its conclusion a little mixed up. We can see this in the words of that short, little song we sang at the beginning of worship service this morning. The words of the song ring so true: “Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world; Every color, every race, all are covered by His grace; Jesus loves the little children of the world.”[4] The study concluded that once fathers take on their role in the family unit, then we’ll see more and more people coming to church. But, the reality may well be that more people won’t start filling the church pews until fathers, mothers, sisters and brothers—and all of God’s children of every race take advantage of His grace—in other words, when people are willing to repent and fill their hearts with the love of Jesus Christ. When that happens, then we’ll see the churches in this country overflowing. But, that will require people to “come to their senses,” as the younger, “prodigal” son did. The churches won’t see an increase in attendance until people start to realize the “insanity” of refusing the pardon so freely offered through Jesus’ sacrifice on the Cross.
All those today whose hearts are presently aligned with the older son in the parable will need to acknowledge their need for a heart transplant. They’ll need to understand that Jesus is ready to transform their hearts of stone, into hearts of love that are pliable to the will of God. Only then, will they understand what God the Father means when He calls out to them: 19 “I will give [you] a new heart and a new mind. I will take away [your] stubborn heart of stone and will give [you] an obedient heart. 20 Then [you] will keep My laws and faithfully obey all My commands. [You] will be My people, and I will be [your] God.” Ezekiel 11:19-20 (TEV)
This morning, maybe you find yourself in that dangerous position of the older son in the parable—or that of the “insane” George Wilson. Maybe you need to “come to your senses” like the prodigal son and return to God. If you refuse to accept your pardon from the BEST FATHER EVER, what a shame that would be. But, the Good News is that Jesus longs to rescue you from such a fate. All you have to do is turn away from that “distant land” this wicked world offers and surrender your life to Jesus Christ! Are you missing out on the “party” God has planned for you in His Heavenly Kingdom? There is no better time than today to come to Christ. Get out of your pew and walk down the aisle this morning—receive His pardon and start on the road to eternal celebration! Let us pray.
Darvin Satterwhite, Pastor
Forest Hill Baptist Church
June 18, 2023
©2023 All Rights Reserved as follows:
Anyone is at liberty to use this sermon or any portions thereof for educational or religious purposes, with or without credit. The pastor believes the material presented herein to be true to the teaching of Scripture, and desires to further, not restrict, its potential use as an aid in the study of God’s Word. The publication of this material is a grace ministry of Forest Hill Baptist Church in Louisa, Virginia.
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[1] Nicole Alcindor, “Absent fathers, collapse in marriage major reasons why Christianity is declining in US: study,” Christian Post, https://www.christianpost.com (June 9, 2023).
[2] United States v. Wilson, 32 U.S. 150 (1833).
[3] “George Wilson,” Newspapers.com. The Philadelphia Inquirer, January 14, 1841. https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-philadelphia-inquirer-george-wilson/68812431/.
[4] The Baptist Hymnal, p. 592, original words by C. H. Woolston (1856-1927), alternate lyrics 1991 Broadman Press, Music by George F. Root (1820-1895).
