Everlasting Father 5

Luke 2:1-7

I have been learning a lesson these past few weeks. I have learned that I need to be faithful to God no matter what happens in the world. In spite of financial worries, in spite of fears for our economy, in spite of the frustration we have experienced with our 10-2 Grow e-mails, in spite of the depression that threatens when area teens and people I have known die unexpectedly – and so close to the holidays – still I must trust in God and obey His commands. I must be faithful to my heavenly Father no matter what.

I must be faithful because my heavenly, everlasting Father is faithful to me.

It is interesting that the Christmas story that we are so familiar with, that we have seen acted out by young and old alike in our churches, is presented only in Matthew and in Luke. It is in Matthew that we see the dilemma that Joseph faced, the fears of his impending marriage to a woman who is pregnant. In Matthew we see the angel visiting Joseph, giving guidance and reassurance.

In Luke the focus is on Mary. In Luke Mary is visited by the angel. In Luke Mary’s cousin Elizabeth is also pregnant.

The first real encounter we have with Joseph in the Book of Luke is in this passage, the beginning of the second chapter. We are presented with the reasons that Joseph and Mary had to go to Bethlehem and why the baby was placed in a manger. We see the genealogical connection to the house and line of David.

But to me, the key verse is verse 5. “He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.”

Joseph carried through with his duties, his responsibilities, his obligations. He registered along with the woman to whom he was not yet married and who was with child. If we do not read Matthew’s story then we would have no idea that angels had guided Joseph.

But in this simple statement we see Joseph being faithful. His bride to be is already with child, yet he registers with her and marries her. He carries through with his pledge regardless of what was happening, in spite of the pregnancy and the strain of the census. He was acting as a faithful and loving father.

And this can be a reminder to us all that our heavenly Father is faithful and loving. This can be a reminder to us that the baby Joseph raised is also the everlasting Father to each of us. He gives us love, and he is eternally faithful.

Let us follow the examples of Joseph and Jesus. Let us be faithful too. And let us never forget the love of our everlasting Father, Jesus.

DAILY CHALLENGE: How does the everlasting Father show you His faithfulness?

Everlasting Father 4

Isaiah 11:1-2

Members of one of our adult Sunday school classes invited us to join them on a tour of a nearby courthouse. The courthouse was built in the 1920s with an open, three-storied central stairwell complete with a dome of stained glass. The walls were adorned with intricate carvings and gold leaf decorations. But over time this amazing building began to show signs of age.

Then our guide explained how they had recently renovated the courthouse, restoring it to its original beauty after the years had taken their toll on the building. The beauty that had faded was restored, the incredible splendor of the work was brought back.

This prophecy from Isaiah is a prediction of hope and joy for the Israelites. The family line of their greatest kings would be restored, the former glory brought back. In fact the past glory would be exceeded. Who is Jesse? What will the Messiah be blessed with?

The part that Jesse plays in the history of Israel begins in 1 Samuel 16. This is the story of Jesse’s son, David, being selected to be king. And David will grow to be one of the greatest kings ever. We then learn in the genealogy presented in Matthew 1:1-16 that Jesus is a descendent of Abraham, of Isaac, of Jesse, of David, and so on.

This prophecy is a message of restoration. This great line of leaders will again bring forth another great king, Jesus Christ. Jesus will be born and will be the everlasting Father, the Son of the Most High. And through this lineage we see the eternal nature of God.

God has blessed His children from the beginning, from the time of Abraham, down through the centuries. And His blessings continue with Christ. In fact, the blessings will exceed the past blessings.

The celebration of Christmas is a celebration of the everlasting love that God, the Father, has for all who believe in Him. It is an eternal love that stretches back over the centuries and also covers the days to come.

The baby born in Bethlehem is our eternal Father, the very image of God. He is an expression of love that transcends all time, that existed in the past, exists now, and will be with us forever.

Let us be reminded this holiday season of the eternal love that God has for us.

DAILY CHALLENGE: How can God restore you with His love this Christmas?

Everlasting Father 1

John 1:1-2 and Hebrews 13:8

If you've ever been on a long car trip with small children (or not so small children) you've proven Albert Einstein's theory that time is relative! It speeds up or slows down depending on how fast one thing is moving relative to something else. Time and space and light and age are all in a state of constant change.

This week we will be looking at how we can possibly understand the term "Everlasting Father." Eternity is a concept of time too complex for our simple minds to grasp. Everlasting is virtually incomprehensible to us.

Yet in John 1, it tells us that Jesus was already with God when things began. So Jesus (the Word) is older than the beginning. It's a paradox that we can't hope to fully understand. How can Jesus exist before the beginning? Yet the trinity have no beginning and no end.

And unlike Einstein's theories of relativity of time and space, we are told that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

He is before the beginning and unchanging throughout the whole span of time. It's so easy to say those words, but really hard to internalize. Mathematics and science can try to explain infinity, but even that is limited.

But the mathematical symbol for infinity (at right) might help.

Like Jesus, there is no beginning and no end. It is an endless swoop of balanced and symmetrical beauty. It's not just a symbol of eternity, it is designed to be one. Where does it begin and where does it end? It doesn't. The question isn't really even valid.

It's the same with God. We can't ask where does He begin and end because the question is irrelevant. God, like the infinity symbol is always constant, beautiful, and endlessly connected. He is before the beginning, after the end and eternally in the present.

DAILY CHALLENGE: Are you living only in the past, only for the future or only in the moment? Where can you see evidence of God's presence in all three in your life?