The Faith of our Father

In today’s world, Fathers are often ridiculed and seen as oppressors who keep women from flying like Eagles. And yet, the words of Isaiah who we can no longer see in the flesh, live on. They speak to us. As Paul writes in Hebrews 11:4 and lifted up by Ken Weliever in his blog post reblogged here (in honour of his father who was a man of faith), the sacrifice of Abel was more excellent and more pleasing to God than Cain’s.

The faith and the sacrifice of many of our mothers, loving our fathers, believing in them, working beside them, encouraging them to serve God and watch to make sure God’s word, God’s promise would be accomplished has lifted them up on wings as Eagles (Isaiah 40:31). Yet many people will argue, many of our mothers stayed home and never travelled through the sky on a plane or even on a donkey beyond the kitchen door.

Paul insists the dead do rise. For if the dead do not rise, then neither did Christ (1 Corinthians 15:16). Yet when we get the call that informs us, our Dad has passed on. Grief grips our heart. Our memories of Dad keep him alive for a while and then 30 years later, the stark reality hits us. When we go, how will our children (if we have any) remember a Grandpa they seldom saw or never saw. Now if Dad was a man of great integrity well known in the community or in the local church or synagogue or mosque, his name and legacy of faith will be passed on. But what if like Cain his contribution to the work of God wasn’t as pleasing to God as Abel’s. What then?

Should a would a could a…gives many a dying person a huge burden. Who wants to acknowledge they were the one who said…”crucify” that man, hoping and praying that Jesus would die and stay buried so they would have their proof. Men (people) do not actually come back to life again. It’s only those who are loved, admired and remembered for what they leave behind who live on.

Those who die poor, alone and have nothing to show for a life where their talent or gifts were never seen as pleasing in God’s sight by those who were sure their Gifts were pleasing…what of them? Can a last minute conversion save them? I’d say yes. How about you? Can you let go and cling to the Hope that what Jesus won for you…the Hope of Everlasting life (Hebrews 6:20) full of everlasting LOVE is for those who die believing Jesus endured the pain and the shame of the CROSS, trusting in the Resurrection and the Ascension (Hebrews 12:3).

The CROSS being dead spoke to those who were there and still speaks to those who believe in the testimony of those who were there when they Crucified Christ (John 3:28-29). Like a cursed Amygdala or a cursed fig tree…people looked on from a distance. Many were so sure a cursed and a lifeless stick, stripped of all its branches, would never bloom or grow into a tree loved, admired and appreciated for its beauty, its sweet smelling blossoms and sweet tasting almonds…hammered into a ROCK on a hill resembling a skull!

“He Being Dead Still Speaks”