Another job title I held at six years old was that of a framing carpenter, as an equal partner in Curwood Jennings and Son Construction. With my five ounce hammer, I helped daddy build a barn on the 100 acres he had bought from Baker Pinkston. For a $100 an acre!
My job description was pretty much the same as when I cut posts: stay in sight and out of the way, bring nails and water, carry on a conversation and ask a lot of questions. This was an important job. It never entered my mind that daddy could have done it without me. And if you want to know the truth, it never entered his mind either.
I belonged there, an express image of who he was.
Somewhere in the process I was told not to get near a board that he had half-way nailed as a brace. Somehow I didn’t quite get what he was telling me, and somehow it fell and then, I got it. Right across the arm. And I thought I was dying and did what all six years old do in that situation: I started crying and running around the barn. Daddy thought I had broken my arm and did what all fathers do that love their sons, especially when they’re hurting.
He chased me.
And somehow I’m getting it, years later, that this is exactly the way our Heavenly Father sees it. It has never entered his mind not to pursue us when we are hurting. He is not some hard man, as some would portray him, “You’re getting just what you deserve; will you ever get it right?”
Never! The scriptures teach us that his heart is bound up in the life of his children, as was Jacob concerning Joseph. We know from 1 Peter 5:7 that he cares for us, that it matters to him what we are going through. From Isaiah 63:9 we understand that in all of our afflictions, he is afflicted with us.
Ultimately, all of this is realized through Jesus Christ, the Son of God. As the Everlasting Father, he has pursued us with an everlasting love. When we were hopelessly lost and dead in our sins, he paid the ultimate price for our redemption by shedding His Blood on the cross in our stead. That precious Blood is crying out today, the Life of a Father calling, and chasing a hurting son:
“Be washed in the Blood of the Lamb. There’s work to do! You belong by my side, we’ve important things to talk about!”
Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not. ~ Jeremiah 33:3
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God is touched with the feelings of our infirmities.
ReplyDeleteGood truth passed our way again, Jeb.
Thank God for a Dad, who is willing to chase down his hurting son! And when he overtakes him by his love!
No greater a love is available today to those that are hurting, than the Heavenly Father who hears the cry of his children!
Isn't God so good to give us life illustrations with our family to show us His love.