I want to give tribute to our fathers; those alive and those deceased. The unfortunate thing about this topic is that I spent a lot of time this week remembering my best friend and my hero—my father. He went home to be with the Lord 15 years ago February 29 th. I can remember dad on his knees beside the bed on that old, tattered rug. I remember the nights I overheard him say my name when he was praying, and the nights he got out of bed to pray with me when I got home. My father gave me the greatest gift anyone could give their child. He prayed for me.
Proverbs 1:8: “ 8 My son, hear the instruction of your father. . .” One of the greatest problems facing American society today is the lack of fathers—let me add—a lack of Christian fathers in the home, teaching wisdom to their children. In 2018, research regarding the effects caused by the physical or emotional absence of fathers included: an increase in violent crime, illegitimate births, teenage pregnancies, and an increase in teen suicide.
All too sadly . . . we have underestimated the significance of the father’s role in the life of American homes and families, and the devastating effect on our communities, our nation, and even in our churches. It isn’t so much that we just need more men to be the head of the household, we desperately need men to be real fathers.
One of the Old Testament names used to describe God as a Father who is Omnipresent is Jehovah Shammah—the God who is there. Too many homes in American are suffering from absent or ghost fathers. That is both the father who is not there, or in some homes— even when he is there—he is not there.
Thousands of men have fathered children, and then just simply walked away from the children they sired. Furthermore, fathering a child does not make a man a father. To carry the title of father evokes with it great responsibility. Some men, even while living with their family, are so absorbed in their careers, hobbies, and extracurricular activities that they never lead by example. They rarely spend time with their children.
When you became a father, the Heavenly Father gave you responsibilities. In Ephesians 6:4 it says: “ 4 And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.” That means it is the father’s responsibility to teach children about God. Fathers, teach your children to fear the Lord, to turn away from evil, to love righteousness, to hate iniquity, and to live a Holy life before God by modeling it for them.
Fathers, protect them from ungodly influences. It is okay to be a watchful father; to be strict; to “stand in the gap” and build a hedge around them. You must be their protector. Teach them godly standard, morals, and values. Teach them that sex before marriage is a sin—that living together outside of marriage is sin.
John 10:10 informs us that: “ 10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy.” He wants to steal their innocence, their virginity, their dignity, their body, soul, and mind. Fathers and grandfathers, it is our job—yours and mine—to fight him with all that is within us. We must pray as we never prayed before. I’m grateful that I had a father who loved me enough to pray for me and live a godly life for me to watch.
Always in His Service, Pastor Ron Fellowship Church of the Nazarene