Fathers, Kids and Gifts.

As a young father, I couldn't see it. I really thought that life was all about following the rules, about "getting it right". It wasn't until recently, probably until becoming a grandfather, that I finally realized the truth in what my grandfather told me almost 30 years ago. The words he used were something like, "It's not what you know but who you know."

I reacted with violent negative emotions at the time since I was completely preoccupied with "getting it right". Recently, I thought about what it is like for a parent, a father in my case, to watch a young child open a gift. Often, the child finds the wrapping paper and the package more interesting than the contents, the intended gift. As I contemplated the situation, I realized that a father who is watching this scene would likely smile with satisfaction just because of the joy the child experienced at the fact of receiving a gift, regardless of how impressive the gift itself might have been. He wouldn't be angry with his child for failing to recognize the impressive nature of the item which was enclosed in the package. He would just be pleased that his child is pleased.

Then I thought about God, the Father. He has given us so many gifts and we often fail to understand the true significance of the intended gift. But we still find a great deal of enjoyment in the act of opening the package and we may even take a great deal of fun and joy from the process of playing with the wrapping paper or the bow. Our Heavenly Father isn't angry with us because we don't fully understand or appreciate the full value of the gift. He doesn't chide us for finding pleasure in the package. Sure, He wants us to understand and appreciate the full value of His gift to us but "He knows... that we are dust."

The Father knows not to expect more of us than we are capable of giving. He knows that we are human flesh and that we are weak in that flesh. He understands that we only see in part and therefore cannot even see all that is there, much less appreciate what we do see. I believe that He still smiles from His throne, enjoying our enjoyment of what He has done for us. You see, it is not okay to do wrong. However, pleasing God is not about "getting it right" (in the sense of following all the rules).

Scripture tells us in the Book of Hebrews that "without faith, it is impossible to please God." In the letter to the Ephesians, we are told that even our faith is a gift from God and so it is actually not our own. I guess my grandfather was right. It really is about WHO you know, not WHAT you know.

It's not about following the rules either. In fact, Paul writes in Romans that the law (rules) is put in place exclusively to reveal our sinful nature to us. Without the law, God's law, we would not even have a clue that there is anything inherently wrong with us so we would not, could not, know that we are in need of a Saviour. God in His grace provided the law so that we would know that we need Him.

Then, after clearly demonstrating to us that we need him, He provided the sacrifice which met our exact needs. That sacrifice is Jesus, the "...Lamb of God, who taketh away the sins of the world." (Authorized King James Version) So, it is not about what you know, about life, about Jesus, about Scripture or anything else. It really is about WHO you know. It is about knowing Jesus and developing a personal, intimate relationship with Him. It is about going to Him with all of your fears, your troubles, your needs and sharing your burdens with Him, just like you might do with your (earthly) father.

God is the Father of all fathers as much as He is the King of all kings. Make Him your Saviour, your Advocate, your Deliverer and find out what it is like to know the One for whom we were made. The One to whom we owe our very lives.