Get to know your Father
Rev. Brad Bowen
Friday, August 3, 2007
John had just received his July Issue of Boy’s Life magazine. The year was 1965. He quickly turned to the back page. There it was, as it had been for the past 12 months, full page and full color: the “Purple Schwinn Sting-Ray Bicycle”!
He had asked for it as his birthday present the year before; but a few weeks before the big day, his dad sat him down and said, “Son, your mother and I really wanted to get that bicycle for you, but right now we just do not have enough money.” John’s dad was in construction and worked for himself which meant that it was either feast or famine, and for now it was famine.
John said that he was a little disappointed, but he understood. Then, the previous Christmas, he had again asked for the purple Sting-Ray bicycle; and, again, a few weeks before Christmas, his dad had said he was really sorry, but the money was tight and that he would not be getting his bike for Christmas. Again John said he understood, but he was very disappointed. You see besides seeing the picture on the back of the magazine, a purple Sting-Ray hung in the window of the Schwinn bicycle shop down town. That night in July, when his Dad had gotten home from work, John had taken his Boy’s Life magazine to his dad. Once again he asked if he could get the purple Sting-Ray for his birthday in August. His dad said, “We’ll see how the money is next month.” About two weeks later, in the middle of July, John’s father came home early from work, which was very rare. He asked John if he would like to go with him because he had some business to attend to down town.
John and his father loaded up into the pickup truck and headed out. As they turned down Main Street, John pointed out to his dad the purple Sting-Ray hanging in the window. His dad pulling up right in front of the bike shop and said, “Well, why don’t you show this bicycle to me!”
As they walked into the shop, the man behind the counter asked if he could help them, and his dad said, “Yep! My son here really wants that purple Sting-Ray.” The man said, “I have one in a box in the back.” But his dad said, “Nope, my son wants that one hanging there in the window.” John did not know what was going on, but when he look up at his dad and saw the smile on his face, tears started to well up in his eyes. Then his dad said to the man, “My son has waited a long time for this bicycle, and he wants to ride it home.”
This is what God the Father wants to do for you. In the book of 1 John 3:1 it says: “How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.” (NIV)
If John had thrown fits and demanded that bicycle, I am not too sure if his father would have wanted to get John that bike. Now John was disappointed, but he understood. He knew his father. Therein lies the difference. John knew his father. We do not take the time to get to know our heavenly Father.
We cannot do anything to earn this love which the Father has for us. It’s through our belief in His son, Jesus Christ, that we would be called children of God. If we truly seek to know Him, we will understand when He says, “Sorry, not right now!” It’s not that he does not want to lavish on us the things we ask for.
No, it is because He loves us and He knows us and He wants us to trust Him. There is the key!
As we start to grow in our knowledge of Him by studying His Word, we can give Him everything in our lives and trust Him. And when we do take the time, it’s those times — in the middle of the week, in the middle of the day — that your Father takes you by the hand and lavishes His love on you when you least expect it.
Seek Him and know Him. He wants to be your dad, and He wants us to be His children.
F “Sunday Sermon” is a forum for Emporia area ministers to share their sermons, thoughts and observations. This week’s sermon is from the Rev. Brad Bowen, pastor of Calvary Chapel Fellowship.