The importance of a Father should not be underestimated. For those children whose fathers were there for them, who loved them and provided for them, there is great gratitude. This is only natural. Father’s Day is a holiday set aside to honor and thank your father. For some, it is a difficult day because of the failure of a father. Maybe because of desertion or divorce, cruelty or even abuse, the day brings sadness and anger and there is no celebration for one’s Father. In the physical realm our earthly father is important, how much more in the spiritual realm? Psalm 27:10 states, “When my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will take me up.”

The benefits of a loving and caring earthly father are many. The blessings and benefits of our heavenly Father are infinite. We become our earthly father’s child by being born. We become our heavenly Father’s child by being “born again.” This Biblical truth is found in John chapter 3. “Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God,…” I John 3:1.

The Bible tells us that “God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” GOD SO LOVED! God’s love precedes His forgiveness. He delights in mercy. He desires to forgive. God’s love precedes His help. At the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, Spain, the world watched as a parable of the Father’s love was played out on international television. As the gun sounded for the 400-meter race, Great Britain’s Derrick Redman knew that his lifelong dream of winning the gold medal was in view. But as he entered the back stretch, Redman was sent sprawling by the ripping pain of a torn hamstring. By an act of sheer will, he struggles to his feet in excruciating pain and began hopping toward the finish line. Suddenly Derrick’s father bounded out of the stands, past a security guard. He threw his arms around his son. In a voice choked with emotion, he whispered, “Come on, son, let’s finish this together.” The crowd cheered and wept as they watched the father half-carrying his wounded son jerkily down the stretch and across the finish line. Our heavenly Father tells us He will never leave us nor forsake us. He said to His children, “I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee…” He said to His children surely goodness and mercy shall follow us all the days of our life.

Whom does the Father choose to be His Child? Galatians 3:26 states, “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.” He is a wonderful Father.