Educators have a front-row seat to the impact a father can have on the lives of children. Unfortunately, we have all seen the good, the bad, and the ugly. We also have our own experiences with our earthly fathers. All fathers fall short of perfection, some more than others. If we aren’t careful, our experiences with earthly fathers can skew our view of the perfect Father. Having an accurate understanding of God—our perfect Father—will not only change our own lives but also significantly impact the lives of those around us.
The dictionary defines perfect as free from faults or defects. Given our own flaws and the shortcomings of those around us, it’s challenging to wrap our minds around a truth revealed in Scripture—our Heavenly Father is perfect. His way, His word, and His will are free from faults or defects. Perfection defines Him.
I will proclaim the name of the Lord; how glorious is our God! He is the Rock; his deeds are perfect. Everything he does is just and fair. He is a faithful God who does no wrong; how just and upright he is! Deuteronomy 32:3-4
God’s way is perfect. All the Lord’s promises prove true. He is a shield for all who look to him for protection. Psalms 18:30
God’s WAY is perfect.
God’s way is defined by His actions. I must admit there are times when I don’t understand God’s actions. During these times of confusion, it’s important to remember one thing—God doesn’t act apart from who He is. His character is reflected in what He does. I was reading in Exodus not too long ago and came across the time Moses spent alone with God on Mount Sinai. There is this beautiful scene after God had chiseled out the two tablets of stones for Moses the second time. God came down, passed in front of Moses, and spoke these words out loud so there would be little left to interpretation (Exodus 34:4-7).
“Yahweh! The Lord! The God of compassion and mercy! I am slow to anger and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness. I lavish unfailing love to a thousand generations. I forgive iniquity, rebellion, and sin. But I do not excuse the guilty.”
Pause for a moment. Imagine God speaking these words. This is who God is. The way of God is perfect for many reasons.
He is LORD. God began by making sure Moses remembered what He had told him earlier. “I AM” can be translated as “I am the one who is.” God is self-sufficient. Everything is dependent on Him and His existence.
He is compassionate and merciful. I love that God started with this attribute. His compassion toward us is infinite. He sees our struggles with sympathetic eyes. The word merciful is often translated as gracious. God hears our cry and bends toward us with kindness.
He is slow to anger. God doesn’t have a short fuse. He is patient with us even when we fail over and over again.
He is love. Love isn’t an emotion or temporary feeling to God. He told Moses He was filled with unfailing love. No matter what we do, God’s love for us remains. It lasts forever. It is His nature to love (1 John 4:16).
He is faithful. God will never fail us. As the psalmist declared, “The Lord’s promises prove true” (Psalm 18:30). We can always count on God to come through and do what He says He will do. His faithfulness to us isn’t dependent on what we do but on who He is (2 Timothy 2:13).
He is forgiving. There is no sin God cannot forgive. When we choose to sin, we miss the mark or standard God has established in His Word. However, even in the times of Moses before Christ came to take our sins on the cross, God was willing to forgive all who came to him in repentance. It is in His nature to forgive.
He is just. There has always been judgment. From the time of Adam and Eve in the garden (Genesis 3) to Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 18-19) to the unbelieving Jewish leaders (Matthew 21:42-44), God has judged fairly. The character of God ensures that one day everything will be made right (Romans 2:5).
I bet we all know students who are the spitting image of their parents. If you have children of your own, you have probably even seen them try to imitate you. Being a child of God means we take on His likeness through the power of the Holy Spirit. God’s perfect way changes us. Paul gave us a picture of how imitating our Father impacts how we treat others.
Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you. Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. Ephesians 4:31-5:1
God’s Word is perfect.
What makes God’s Word perfect? Jesus explained it simply when He prayed to the Father, “Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth.” (John 17:17 ) God’s Word is perfect because God’s Word is absolute truth spoken by a Holy God (Psalm 119:160). The world we live in wants us to think truth is relative based on our circumstances. As a result, it is no wonder why so many today are asking, “What is truth?”
This question is not new. Right before Pontius Pilate walked away from Jesus, he asked, “What is truth?” Jesus replied, “You say I am a king. Actually, I was born and came into the world to testify to the truth. All who love the truth recognize that what I say is true.”
Truth is what Jesus says it is. Because it is impossible for Him to lie (Numbers 23:19, Hebrews 6:18), His words are perfect. God’s perfect word changes us. The Bible says, All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
God’s WILL is perfect.
At one time or another, all of us have asked, “God, what do you want me to do?” Sometimes we get a clear answer, and sometimes we do not. While some decisions are difficult to discern, others are not. God’s perfect will is clearly defined through His perfect Word.
God’s perfect will for us is to…
· Accept Jesus, be saved, and understand the truth of the gospel (1 Timothy 2:3-4, 2 Peter 3:9).
· Live holy lives (1 Thessalonians 4:3-7, 1 Peter 1:15-16).
· Do good and live in service to God and others (1 Peter 2:15-16).
· Give thanks in all circumstances (1 Thessalonians 5:18).
· Make plans but trust God’s sovereignty (Proverbs 16:1-9).
· Repent and turn from wrongdoing and sin (Revelation 3:19).
· Forgive others as we have been forgiven (Colossians 3:13).
· Give God glory in all we do (1 Corinthians 10:31).
The list goes on, but I think you get the picture. Embracing God’s perfect will in our own lives is sometimes a slow process, but one thing we can know with certainty. God’s perfect will changes us! Choosing to submit to His perfect will makes us more like Jesus. When we are more like Jesus, those around us cannot help but take notice.
I realize Father’s Day can be associated with a wide-range of emotions. For me it is bittersweet. Even though it has been many years since my own Dad went to heaven, I still miss him and long to feel his embrace. On the other hand, I love celebrating my husband and son-in-law, two of the best Dads I know. No matter what your own personal experiences have been with earthly fathers, this Father’s Day can be different if you know His way, His word, and His will. Knowing the perfect Father will change your life!
HAPPY FATHER’S DAY!
Do you know the perfect Father? Have you asked Jesus into your heart? If not, do so today! Make this Father’s Day a day you will never forget! Follow one or more of the links below.