{"id":33650,"date":"2024-11-20T20:18:15","date_gmt":"2024-11-21T03:18:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/gospel-express\/2024-menorah-copy\/"},"modified":"2024-11-20T21:03:41","modified_gmt":"2024-11-21T04:03:41","slug":"2024-twofathers","status":"publish","type":"portfolio","link":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/gospel-express\/2024-twofathers\/","title":{"rendered":"Two Fathers, Two Feasts"},"content":{"rendered":"

Max Lucado<\/p>\n

I drove the family to Grandma\u2019s last night for Thanksgiving. Three hours into the six-hour trip, I realized that I was in a theology lab.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

A day with a car full of kids will teach you a lot about God. Transporting a family from one city to another is closely akin to God transporting us from our home to his. And some of life\u2019s stormiest hours occur when the passenger and the Driver disagree on the destination.<\/p>\n

A journey is a journey, whether the destination be the Thanksgiving table or the heavenly one. Both demand patience, a good sense of direction, and a driver who knows that the feast at the end of the trip is worth the hassles in the midst of the trip.<\/p>\n

The fact that my pilgrims were all under the age of seven only enriched my learning experience.<\/p>\n

As minutes rolled into hours and our car rolled through the hills, I began to realize that what I was saying to my kids had a familiar ring. I had heard it before\u2014from God. All of a sudden, the car became a classroom. I realized that I was doing for a few hours what God has done for centuries: encouraging travelers who\u2019d rather rest than ride.<\/p>\n

I shared the idea with Denalyn. We began to discover similarities between the two journeys. Here are a few we noted.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

In order to reach the destination, we have to say no to some requests.<\/p>\n

Can you imagine the outcome if a parent honored each request of each child during a trip? We\u2019d inch our bloated bellies from one ice-cream store to the next. Our priority would be popcorn and our itinerary would read like a fast-food menu. \u201cGo to the Cherry Malt and make a right. Head north until you find the Chili Cheeseburger. Stay north for 1,300 calories and bear left at the Giant Pizza. When you see the two-for-one Chili Dog Special, take the Pepto-Bismol Turnpike east for five convenience stores. At the sixth toilet\u2026 \u201d<\/p>\n

Can you imagine the chaos if a parent indulged every indulgence?<\/p>\n

Can you imagine the chaos if God indulged each of ours?<\/p>\n

No is a necessary word to take on a trip. Destination has to reign over Dairy Deluxe Ice Cream Sundae.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor God has not destined us [emphasis mine] to the terrors of judgement, but to the full attainment of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ<\/strong>.\u201d<\/p>\n

Note God\u2019s destiny for your life. Salvation.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

God\u2019s overarching desire is that you reach that destiny. His itinerary includes stops that encourage your journey. He frowns on stops that deter you. When his sovereign plan and your earthly plan collide, a decision must be made. Who\u2019s in charge of this journey?<\/p>\n

If God must choose between your earthly satisfaction and your heavenly salvation, which do you hope he chooses?<\/p>\n

Me, too.<\/p>\n

When I\u2019m in the driver\u2019s seat as the father of my children, I remember that I\u2019m in charge. But when I\u2019m in the passenger\u2019s seat as a child of my Father, I forget that he\u2019s in charge. I forget that God is more concerned with my destiny than my belly (although my belly hasn\u2019t done too badly). And I complain when he says no.<\/p>\n

The requests my children made last night on the road to Grandma\u2019s weren\u2019t evil. They weren\u2019t unfair. They weren\u2019t rebellious. In fact, we had a couple of cones and Cokes. But most of the requests were unnecessary.<\/p>\n

My four-year-old daughter would argue that fact. From her viewpoint, another soft drink is indispensable to her happiness. I know otherwise, so I say no.<\/p>\n

A forty-year-old adult would argue that fact. From his standpoint, a new boss is indispensable to his happiness. God knows otherwise and says no.<\/p>\n

A thirty-year-old woman would argue that fact. From her standpoint, that man with that job and that name is exactly who she needs to be happy. Her Father, who is more concerned that she arrive at his City than at the altar, says, \u201cWait a few miles. There\u2019s a better option down the road.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWait!\u201d she protests. \u201cHow long do I have to wait?\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Which takes us to a second similarity between the two journeys.<\/p>\n

Children have no concept of minutes or miles.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ll be there in three hours,\u201d I said.<\/p>\n

\u201cHow long is three hours?\u201d Jenna asked. (How do you explain time to a child who can\u2019t tell time?)<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, it\u2019s about as long as three Sesame Streets,\u201d I ventured.<\/p>\n

The children groaned in unison. \u201cThree Sesame Streets?! That\u2019s forever!\u201d<\/p>\n

And to them, it is.<\/p>\n

And to us, it seems that way, too.<\/p>\n

He who \u201clives forever\u201d has placed himself at the head of a band of pilgrims who mutter, \u201cHow long, O Lord? How long?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHow long must I endure this sickness?\u201d
\n\u201cHow long must I endure this spouse?\u201d
\n\u201cHow long must I endure this paycheck?\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Do you really want God to answer? He could, you know. He could answer in terms of the here and now with time increments we know. \u201cTwo more years on the illness.\u201d \u201cThe rest of your life in the marriage.\u201d \u201cTen more years for the bills.\u201d<\/p>\n

But he seldom does that. He usually opts to measure the here and now against the there and then. And when you compare this life to that life, this life isn\u2019t long.<\/p>\n

Our days on earth are like a shadow.<\/p>\n

Each man\u2019s life is but a breath.<\/p>\n

You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

As for man, his days are like grass, he flourishes like a flower of the field; the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a short journey,\u201d I offer to the children. \u201cWe\u2019re almost there.\u201d<\/p>\n

I know. I\u2019ve been there before. I\u2019ve driven this road. I\u2019ve covered this territory. For me, it\u2019s no challenge. Ah, but for the children, it\u2019s eternal.<\/p>\n

So I try another approach. \u201cJust think how good it will be,\u201d I depict. \u201cTurkey, dressing, pie \u2026 I promise you, when you get there, the trip will have been worth it.\u201d<\/p>\n

But they still groan.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Which takes us to the third similarity.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Children can\u2019t envision the reward.<\/p>\n

For me, six hours on the road is a small price to pay for my mom\u2019s strawberry cake. I don\u2019t mind the drive because I know the reward. I have three decades of Thanksgivings under my belt, literally. As I drive, I can taste the turkey. Hear the dinner-table laughter. Smell the smoke from the fireplace.<\/p>\n

I can endure the journey because I know the destiny.<\/p>\n

My daughters have forgotten the destiny. After all, they are young. Children easily forget. Besides, the road is strange, and the dark night has come. They can\u2019t see where we\u2019re going.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s my job, as their father, to guide them.<\/p>\n

I try to help them see what they can\u2019t see.<\/p>\n

I tell them how we\u2019ll feed the ducks at the lake. How we\u2019ll play on the swings. How they can spend the night with their cousins. We speak of sleeping on the floor in sleeping bags and staying up late since there is no school.<\/p>\n

And it seems to work. Their grumbling decreases as their vision clears\u2014as their destiny unfolds.<\/p>\n

Perhaps that\u2019s how the apostle Paul stayed motivated. He had a clear vision of the reward.<\/p>\n

Therefore, we do not lose heart.<\/strong> Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So, we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s not easy to get three girls under the age of seven to see a city they can\u2019t see. But it\u2019s necessary.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s not easy for us to see a City we\u2019ve never seen, either, especially when the road is bumpy \u2026 the hour is late \u2026 and companions are wanting to cancel the trip and take up residence in a motel. It\u2019s not easy to fix our eyes on what is unseen. But it\u2019s necessary.<\/p>\n

One line in the 2 Corinthians passage you just read makes me smile: \u201cour light and momentary troubles<\/strong>.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

I wouldn\u2019t have called them that if I were Paul. Read what he called light and momentary, and I think you\u2019ll agree:<\/p>\n

\u2022 Imprisoned.
\n\u2022 Beaten with a whip five times.
\n\u2022 Faced death.
\n\u2022 Beaten with rods three times.
\n\u2022 Stoned once.
\n\u2022 Shipwrecked three times.
\n\u2022 Stranded in the open sea.
\n\u2022 Left homeless.
\n\u2022 In constant danger.
\n\u2022 Hungry and thirsty.<\/p>\n

Long and trying ordeals, perhaps. Arduous and deadly afflictions, OK. But light and momentary troubles? How could Paul describe endless trials with that phrase?
\nHe tells us. He could see \u201can eternal glory that far outweighs them all.\u201d<\/p>\n

Can I speak candidly for a few lines?<\/p>\n

For some of you, the journey has been long. Very long and stormy. In no way do I wish to minimize the difficulties that you have had to face along the way. Some of you have shouldered burdens that few of us could ever carry. You have bid farewell to life-long partners. You have been robbed of life-long dreams. You have been given bodies that can\u2019t sustain your spirit. You have spouses who can\u2019t tolerate your faith. You have bills that outnumber the paychecks and challenges that outweigh the strength.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

And you are tired.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s hard for you to see the City in the midst of the storms. The desire to pull over to the side of the road and get out entices you. You want to go on, but some days the road seems so long.<\/p>\n

Let me encourage you with one final parallel between your life\u2019s journey and the one our family took last night.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s worth it.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

As I write, the Thanksgiving meal is over. My legs are propped up on the hearth. My tablet is on my lap.<\/p>\n

I have every intention of dozing off as soon as I finish this chapter.<\/p>\n

The turkey has been attacked. The giblet gravy has been gobbled. The table is clear. The kids are napping. And the family is content.<\/p>\n

As we sat around the table today, no one spoke of the long trip to get here. No one mentioned the requests I didn\u2019t honor. No one grumbled about my foot being on the accelerator when their hearts were focused on the banana splits. No one complained about the late hour of arrival.<\/p>\n

Yesterday\u2019s challenges were lost in today\u2019s joy.<\/strong><\/p>\n

That\u2019s what Paul meant. God never said that the journey would be easy, but he did say that the arrival would be worthwhile.<\/p>\n

Remember this:<\/strong> God may not do what you want, but he will do what is right<\/strong> \u2026 and best<\/strong>. He\u2019s the Father of forward motion. Trust him. He will get you home. And the trials of the trip will be lost in the joys of the feast.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Now, if you\u2019ll excuse me, I\u2019ll close my eyes. I\u2019m a bit tired from the journey, and it feels good to rest.<\/p>\n

1 1st Thessalonians 5:9, NEB
\n2 Isaiah 57:15.
\n3 Psalm 74:10; 89:46.
\n4 1 Chronicles 29:15.
\n5 Psalm 39:5.
\n6 James 4:14.
\n7 Psalm 103:15, 16.
\n8 2 Corinthians 4:16\u201318.
\n9 2 Corinthians 11:23\u201327.<\/p>\n

This passage excerpted from: In the Eye of the Storm
\nMax Lucado \u00a91991.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"featured_media":33651,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","tags":[],"portfolio_entries":[29],"class_list":["post-33650","portfolio","type-portfolio","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","portfolio_entries-29"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/portfolio\/33650","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/portfolio"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/portfolio"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=33650"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/portfolio\/33650\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":33662,"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/portfolio\/33650\/revisions\/33662"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/33651"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=33650"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=33650"},{"taxonomy":"portfolio_entries","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/portfolio_entries?post=33650"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}