The Gift 3
Everything Everlasting!
by Daniel Carandang
written by Ana Andres
(Listen to the preaching while reading! Click here!)
"Bae” has become a popular moniker to call a boyfriend or a girlfriend, in today’s generation. It is said to be a shortcut of “babe” and it depicts an intimate relationship. Most of the time, we call our close friends and family certain nicknames and it shows a certain level of closeness we share. In the same way, God also has several different names and we are able to call on Him with these on the basis of our relationship with Him.
God says that we can relate to Him by calling Him our Daddy! However, this could be difficult for others to even imagine because their relationship with their earthly fathers is not good and this distorts the vision of a good Heavenly Father. For some, their vision of a father may be someone violent, abusive, negligent and harsh. Because of this, it’s hard for them to imagine a Father that is compassionate, loving and kind. It’s difficult for them to believe there could be such but the Bible says that God is the perfect Father and even more, He is called the Everlasting Father.
Jesus is the revelation of the Father. Through Him, we were able to see whom God the Father was and that He’s a Father who will never leave us nor forsake us and who will never cease to exist because He is indeed everlasting! The title “Father” He possesses shows that He is a personal God. Although He is all-powerful, all-knowing and divine, He reaches down to us so that we may have an intimate relationship with Him.
“So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith”
Galatians 3:26
“Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.”
Galatians 4:6
What then does this mean for us who are children of God?
1) Everlasting Protection
Man has sinned and because of this, the perfect creation of God has become corrupted. In our world today, there is almost no such thing as safe. There is always a possibility of danger; people suffering natural disasters, crimes, accidents and poor health everyday. As a good Father, He will protect us and look after us and because He is everlasting, we can expect to be protected incessantly and without fail.
“The Lord will keep you from all harm—
he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.”
Psalm 121:7-8
If so, why then does harm still come our way? Why were there moments in life when it seemed like God did not protects us? Truth is, we don’t really know but one thing we know for sure is that, it was not because He was unable. Sometimes He allows trials to reveal Himself and His plans. Based on the truth of who He is, we can trust that His plans are perfect and that there is a higher purpose for whatever it is we go through.
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
Romans 8:28
2) Everlasting Provision
Most of the time when we are in need and provisional burdens come our way, we worry but for us who are children of God, this must not be an option. God our Father always looks after us and He said in His word that He would provide for us.
“Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?”
Matthew 6:26
3) Everlasting Love
“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.”
Psalm 118:1
Unlike humanly love, though also good and may be godly, it is not forever. Whether we like it or not, it has an end. That’s the reality of human life— it will one day come to an end. When it ends, the love is cut-off. On the other hand, God’s love for us is forever. The way He protects us, blesses us, provides for us and encourages us; that will never end. If God is the source of our love there really is nothing we should be anxious about.
Why is it that sometimes we feel like God is punishing us and does not love us?
Because God loves us dearly as His children, He also manifests His love by disciplining us. If God doesn’t discipline us and allow us to do whatever it is we want to do without consequences, we will not learn and this will eventually lead us to harm and danger. When this happens, oftentimes we feel like God is punishing us but this isn’t true. He only wants the best for us and He wants us to grow.
“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Romans 8:37-39
God’s love is the perfect love. Nothing can ever stop His love for us! Do you want to experience this kind of love? Open your heart to Him!
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