Daddy

An unusual number of my friends and relatives are suffering terribly and alas some are in the hospital and on death’s doorstep. I’m praying of course that they don’t cross over the threshold and that the Lord will heal them, reduce their pain, and let them live on to see another day on into years ahead.

Then last night I got a message from a buddy that a mutual acquaintance of ours’ 11 year old son died in a boating accident near my home in the Keys over the weekend. His 16 year old brother was driving the boat. Apparently he made a sharp turn and threw the boy out of the boat and the boat struck him and killed him. Imagine the sadness and grief that is overtaking this good Christian family this morning.

My wife and I had a wonderful weekend. We were by ourselves and just relaxed around our plantation together. Late in the afternoons we rode around observing wildlife such as whitetail deer, turkeys, bobwhite quail, and other native species. It is the time of year when many of them have their newly born offspring with them and it was really neat to see them.

We were talking about how blessed we are and could not help but marvel at all that God has done in our lives. Sometimes I feel guilty about it. Why am I so blessed when others are suffering? I don’t have a good answer. I don’t think anyone can explain grace, least of all me.

No one has ever satisfactorily explained to me why we have tribulation in our lives either. To be sure I have experienced more than my share of grief and tragedy, and I sympathize with those experiencing it now. It is a devastating time. My brother, Jim, tragically lost his five year old son to brain cancer. He never got over it. Several years later he committed suicide and I never got over that.

I take solace in knowing that the Bible clearly states that God has adopted us and we are His children. It states that in times of distress we cry out to Him: “Abba”. Quite literally that word is an Aramaic term of endearment that is more akin to “daddy” than Father. Though we were at one time alienated from God, our adoption makes us extraordinarily intimate to Him now.

I say all of this in order that we might understand that God as our “Daddy” necessarily shares in our grieving as we share in grieving for the sufferings for His Son. We are His children and I know in my heart that it has to grieve Him to see us suffer. I grieve when I envision Christ suffering.

Make no mistake about it; He knows what it feels like to tragically lose a Son and I have no doubt that He wept. He grieves as we grieve even when we both have full knowledge that heaven awaits the departed. The Bible states that Jesus wept when he learned that His friend Lazarus had died, this in spite of the fact that He knew He would soon resurrect Him from the dead. Why did He weep?

Jesus loves us all more than we know.

Romans 8:14
Because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirsheirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.