Jesus: Embracing Our Everlasting Father
Have you ever pondered how differently you might live if you knew you were going to live forever? It's a thought-provoking question that challenges our perspective on life, priorities, and the legacy we leave behind. The truth is, according to Christian belief, we are all eternal beings. As C.S. Lewis wisely noted, "There are no ordinary people. You have never talked to a mere mortal."
This profound reality should reshape our understanding of ourselves and others. Every person we encounter – whether we're joking with them, working alongside them, or even in conflict with them – is an immortal soul. The choices we make in this brief earthly life have eternal consequences, affecting the condition of our forever existence.
In the book of Isaiah, we find a powerful prophecy about Jesus Christ, describing Him as the "Everlasting Father" among other divine titles. This description points to Jesus' eternal nature and His fatherly character towards us. He is the author of time itself, with no beginning and no end. His loving, guiding, and watchful nature has always been and will always be.
Why do we need an Everlasting Father? There are two primary longings in the human heart that only an Everlasting Father can fulfill:
1. The longing for security
We all desire a life that can withstand the storms and challenges that come our way. Jesus, in His Sermon on the Mount, compares those who hear and obey His words to a wise man who built his house on solid rock. When the rains fell and the floods came, the house stood firm. Jesus' teachings and way of life are the building blocks for a secure existence that can weather any storm.
2. The longing for significance
Our culture often equates significance with success, wealth, and recognition. However, Jesus presents a radically different perspective. He teaches that true significance is found in giving up our lives for His sake and for the sake of the Gospel. It's about living for what eternally matters, not for temporary gains.
Jesus challenges us to shift our mentality from seeing life as a destination to viewing it as a preparation for eternity. God's ultimate plan is not to give us everything we want in this world, but to prepare us for a far better one.
So, how is Jesus our Everlasting Father?
1. He is personal
Jesus invites us to "abide" in His love, painting a picture of being forever at home and at peace in His presence. He offers complete acceptance based on grace, not merit. This personal relationship with Jesus as our Everlasting Father should be at the core of our identity – seeing ourselves as deeply and personally loved by Him.
2. He is compassionate
Unlike the distant and harsh deities of other religions, Jesus is described as a high priest who can sympathize with our weaknesses. His compassion stands in stark contrast to the legalistic indifference often found in religious systems. While religion says, "Obey so God will love you," the Gospel proclaims, "God loves you, therefore joyfully obey."
3. He is God
Jesus' divinity doesn't diminish His personal and compassionate nature. Rather, it amplifies the significance of His love for us. As eternal beings connected to the eternal God, our lives take on an everlasting significance that we can't derive from any other source.
Consider the profound words of C.S. Lewis:
"It is a serious thing to live in a society of possible gods and goddesses, to remember that the dullest and most uninteresting person you can talk to may one day be a creature which, if you saw it now, you would be strongly tempted to worship, or else a horror and corruption such as you now meet only in a nightmare."
This perspective should radically alter how we view and treat others, recognizing the eternal potential in every person we encounter.
Embracing Jesus as our Everlasting Father transforms our identity and purpose. We're no longer just employees, parents, or friends – we're eternal beings whose daily actions carry everlasting significance when aligned with Christ. A pipe fitter becomes an eternal pipe fitter, a real estate agent an eternal real estate agent, each role infused with divine purpose.
So, how will you live differently now that you're aware of your eternal nature? Here are some reflections to consider:
1. Prioritize experiences and relationships over material pursuits.
2. View current problems and stresses through an eternal lens, recognizing there's time for healing, forgiveness, and growth.
3. Focus on leaving a legacy that matters eternally.
4. Treat others with the respect and love befitting potential "everlasting splendors."
5. Align your daily actions and decisions with eternal values.
6. Find security in building your life on Jesus' teachings rather than shifting cultural norms.
7. Seek significance in serving others and living for God's kingdom, not in worldly success.
8. Cultivate a personal, intimate relationship with Jesus as your Everlasting Father.
9. Rest in God's compassion and acceptance, freeing you from the need for constant human approval.
10. View your work, relationships, and daily activities as opportunities for eternal impact.
As we embrace the reality of our eternal nature and Jesus as our Everlasting Father, may we be transformed in our thinking and living. Let's move through each day with the weight and wonder of eternity in our hearts, treating each person we meet as the immortal being they truly are. In doing so, we'll find the security, significance, and purpose our souls long for, anchored in the unchanging love of our Everlasting Father.