Happy Father’s Day!

Well, here we are again at yet another Father’s Day.  I think we should call it “Tie Day” since a tie is, or at least used to be a popular gift idea for dads.  I guess with the liberal shift in our nation maybe we that will not work either.

My father was a truck driver for thirty-four (34) years.  His health is now failing due to many hard years of being beaten day in and day out by those old trucks.  I breaks my heart that my dad and I are as opposite as we are.  I keep praying for him that God will get a hold of his heart and that lasting change will take place by the work of regeneration.  Some day.

As my wife and I were watching a television show about our national anthem I heard a Navy choir performing “The Star-Spangled Banner”.  It was moving to say the least.  Behind the choir was a large banner hanging with the words, “Don’t give up the ship!”

As I was thinking about Father’s Day I kept coming back to “Don’t give up the ship!”  Far too many men and boys have fathered children; but, never been a daddy to them.  They have given up the ship of fatherhood.  Shame on them!

In Psalm 127, David tells us that children are from the LORD.  They are His gift to us.  Many don’t see it that way.  If you had walked the path of life that my wife and I have walked and countless others  then you would see my point.  You cannot raise a child who is God’s special child and not be changed.  Look at what David says in Psalm 127:5, “Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.”  The word “speak” means to battle or subdue.  If you can raise children you can do anything.

What is your attitude toward your children?  Remember they are a gift from God.  Thank you LORD!

So, how are you doing?

Son Remember

Status

Today is Father’s Day.  I will be preaching all day at Lighthouse Baptist Church in Dennison, IL for a dear Preacher friend of mine Pastor Phil Price.  I thought I would share with you some Father’s Day wisdom.  I hope you enjoy and are challenged by my message from Luke 16:19-31.

I. Son remember that life is not always fair vs. 19-21

The rich man had everything in this life on earth in verse 19.  He had the best of all that life had to offer.  Yet, it was only good during his lifetime.  Just like the rich man, you and I will carry nothing into eternity with us except the testimony that we have here on earth as a Christian.  This man was not a Christian.  He did not know Messiah.

The poor beggar had nothing in this life on earth verses 20 and 21.  The Bible refers to him as a beggar.  He was so poor that he was laid at the rich man’s gate daily in hopes that someone would drop a crumb to him.  This is so sad.  Yet, he knew Messiah and had nothing to fear for eternity.

II.   Son remember that life is not final vs. 22, 23

The poor man’s eternal destination in verse 22a was he was carried into Abraham’s bosom by the angels.  He had an angelic escort into eternity.  Many people believe that you live life like a dog and then you die.  In the process of your life you must do everything you can to be happy and that is all there is.  This could not be further from the truth.

The rich man’s eternal destination in verses 22b and 23 was to be separated from Abraham in hell.  There was no party like some boast.  There is only eternal isolation, pain and suffering.  There will be no joking about going to hell when someone’s eternal destiny is sealed there.

III.   Son remember that life is not always fulfilling vs. 24

Why is is that we think that we must be fulfilled in life?  In verse 24a we see this rich man as he cries for mercy.  Mercy is the withholding of just judgment.  If we do not trust Jesus Christ as our Saviour there will be no mercy in eternity.

In verse 24b we see this man crying for the meeting of his needs.  As you watch the commercials on television for the organizations that feed children and they have the children on the screen that are so thin and look like they are at death’s door remember that this does not even begin to picture what it will be like in eternity for those who do not trust Jesus Christ as their Saviour.  There will be no mercy!

IV.   Son Remember that life is not always fun vs. 25-31

In verses 25 and 26 we see the rich man’s cry to see the truth (reality sets in).  Far too many people do not want to hear the truth.  If they hear the truth then they are accountable.  People want to blame their circumstances, their parents and the list goes on and on; but, it is not their fault in their eyes.  Guess what?  That is wrong.  Grow up and take responsibility.  Life is not always fun and we need to grow up and go on.

In verses 27 through 31 we see the rich man’s cry to evangelize his family.  Oh, he probably did not want anything to do with “religion” during his life; but, now he wants others to come to the realization that there is a real place called hell and they can avoid it.  Yet it is far too late now.

Dear friend, this passage of Scripture is one of the most quoted passages on the reality of hell.  It is my desire for you to know Jesus Christ as your Saviour so you can avoid this place of torment.  Will you put your faith and trust in Him today before it is too late?  I pray that you will.  Son Remember!

So, how are you doing?

Put Dad In His Place

One of my favorite writers is retired Pastor Dale Byers.  He is a fantastic writer and Christian Statesman.  Besides that he is my cousin.  He has written a wonderful article posted here.  I will try not to duplicate his work.  However, I did steal his title.

When I first read Dale’s title I thought of some punk teen boy telling his dad off.  You and I have all seen it play out in public and we would like to set things straight.  Yet, it is not our place to do so.  Disrespect is rampant.  Kids run rough shot over parents and our TV portrays dad and men as weak and stupid.  This makes me mad enough to spit nails.

If it were not for father’s we would not be here.  Even in test tube babies it take a male and a female (God’s original design!) to reproduce.  Father’s are vitally important.  I thank God for my father and how he worked hard to make a living and I took notice of it.

God is our Heavenly Father if we are born again.  Yet, we treat Him like the world treats Him so often.  We need to put Father in His place.  Look at Revelation 4:10-11, “The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.”  My dear reader, have you put God the Father in His rightful place in your life?  I hope so.

So, how are you doing?