13 DECEMBER

 

Eternal Father

Reading: “Eternal Father” (Isaiah 9:6)

When Bilquis Sheikh’s marriage broke down, she returned to her family home at the base of the Himalayan mountains seeking refuge and to find peace. Over time, she was drawn to the life of Jesus, and began reading the Bible, but peace with God eluded her.

One day, as she shared with a doctor that she was “earnestly seeking God” the doctor responded by encouraging her to “Talk to God as if He were your Father.” Back home, as she pondered this, she thought of her own father, who always made time for her, and was always ready to listen to her. “Wouldn’t my heavenly Father be like that?” she thought to herself.

She got down on her knees and began praying, “Oh Father, my Father…Father God” and immediately felt His Presence in her life. From that moment on, her life was transformed, and she was at peace with God.

Isaiah describes Jesus here as the “Eternal Father.” This is saying Jesus is “Father forever” and it reminds us again that Jesus is fully God and came directly from eternity and His Father’s Presence into our world.
And in the same way as God the Father, Jesus is a Father to us because He is our Saviour and Shepherd.

1 Peter 3:18 says, “Christ died for our sins once for all. He never sinned, but He died for sinners (all of us) to bring you safely home to God.”

If we are to have peace with God, then once we admit we are sinners, we must also believe that only the death of Jesus can pay the penalty for our sins and to confirm this, God raised Him from the dead.

When Bilquis Sheik made peace with God she said, “I could sense His Presence, (His) love and compassion, I found myself talking with Him, apologising for not having known Him before.”

May you too come to know the peace of your Eternal Father this Christmas!

Have you ever thought of speaking to God as your Eternal Father?