As I was growing up, I didn’t know that I was supposed to feel an emotional love of a father. I was young and full of me, myself, and I. I was busy with different things, doing magic tricks, slot cars, stop-motion clay animation, martial arts, and never far from an open book.
My dad went from owning a Shell service station to being co-owner of a company that designed and built radio-controlled race cars. He designed nitro-powered cars in 1:8 scale, designed an RC engine that other engine manufacturers borrowed. He managed the race team, going around the world for the larger events, including World Championship events. He loved cars.
Me–not so much. We had few interests that overlapped. He liked giving Christmas presents. I liked receiving them.
Later on, after college, where I majored in drafting and got my certificate in drafting technology, dad recognized my skills. He offered me a job at the factory to make all the drawings and instructions for all the products.
I got to know my dad better working there. But I was still full of myself and we argued a lot over how things should be done. I found something we had in common. We were both stubborn.
Shortly before that time, I had become a Christian. The Spirit in me told me to be a good servant and do what I’m told. So I backed off.
In the past, I had gone to church learning that I had a heavenly Father. But I didn’t know I was supposed to enjoy being close to Him. I didn’t know I was supposed to enjoy His love and guidance personally instead of as a bible lesson. Through the good news of Christ dying for my sins, I came into a relationship with God.
Then He, too, tapped me and put me to work. I volunteered for all kinds of things in the church. I found my heavenly Father to be loving, serious, helpful, a trainer, a giver, and a team manager over a vast network of servants around the world.
We had something in common. I was stubborn. He agreed with that assessment.
When my earthly dad died, one of my co-workers on the race team came up to me and gave his condolences, saying my dad had helped him a lot. He had become like a father to him. Wow.
Through many emails and blog posts by the RC industry greats after his death, more light was shed on my dad’s life, extolling the work he did, but especially the helpful person he was and the work he did behind the scenes to make the hobby grow.
God the Father sent His Son into the world that we may enjoy a relationship with God that we didn’t know we could have. Sin prevents us from knowing that relationship in other than academic terms. Sin shows itself in our preoccupation with me, myself, and I. Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection paid the penalty of death that we deserve for disobeying God. Sin was the problem and God dealt with it on the cross.
Through the many churches and its songs, the death of Jesus Christ is praised for the work He did behind the scenes to save us.
Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father but through Me.” By confessing our sins and believing this resurrected Jesus, He will forgive our sins and open the way to this Father.
God is the most amazing Father we’ll ever know. Whatever your relationship was with your earthly dad, nothing can top this. He is the model for all good fathers.
My God is like a Father to me. Through His word, He teaches me of Him and His Son. Through His work, He trains me to put it all into practice and build up my character along the way.
As a Christian, this is a dual Father’s Day for me, where I celebrate my earthly dad and my heavenly Father. Happy Father’s Day!
