“And he will be called … Everlasting Father” Isaiah 9:6, NIV
What characteristics make a Father special?
He’s always there. He listens and cares. His eyes are tender toward his children.
He loves well.
The list could go on and on, but God fashioned each of us with different preferences, various personalities, and so on. Since we’re unique individuals, we’re drawn to a diversity of fatherly traits. The qualities you gravitate toward might not be the same ones that appeal to me.
But here’s the awesome truth: God’s got them all!
Yes, our heavenly Father possesses every single attribute everyone longs for. In which case, we might think He’s “made for us.” But no, that’s oh so wrong.
We’re made for Him.
He created us in His image to bear His resemblance.
He gave us His Son so we can call Him Father.
He made us … so He can love us.
Life holds many complexities and our days are filled with extremes ranging from busyness to boredom. But truly, this one truth couldn’t be more simple:
God, the Everlasting Father, loves you.
“And he got up and came to His father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him, and felt compassion for him, and ran and embraced him, and kissed him” (Luke 15:20, Nasb).
What leapt out from that verse? God knows. He knows our hearts—when we’re close to Him and when we’re painfully distant. Even when we’re in between. At times of separation, He’s waiting. He’s watching. He’s yearning to embrace and kiss us with the most unspeakable outpouring of love.
This is our Father’s heart … forever and ever and ever.
We can go to Him confidently, entering “the holy place by the blood of Jesus” (Heb. 10:19). Whatever sin we treasure more than Him just. isn’t. worth it. When we approach him in repentance—a change of mind from our former way of thinking—He responds with amazing warmth. He’s thrilled to pieces when we actually “get it,” when we see our sin the same way He does. And He spares no form of rejoicing.
