by David Baker

It is good for me to go to Texas every now and then. That is where my father is from, and all of my mother’s folks before they moved to California in the 1920’s.

If "roots" are important to a family, then Texas is important to us. When I go, I always find people who know Dad, or knew him a long time ago. They all have something good to say, and that makes me feel good.

I know that all of us love our fathers. Some have not been so fortunate as I in having the good father that I have. But know this, unless you are the extreme exception, your father loves you and much of his thinking has to do with your welfare. He deserves the honor and the notice of this day – Father’s Day.

It is not accidental that God uses this relationship to describe our relationship to him and his to us. God is our Father, and as my earthly roots are in Texas, my spiritual roots are in heaven. That is our home, where we long to go when this life is over. Paul told us, "For our citizenship is in heaven; whence also we wait for a Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ" (Phil. 3:20). If heaven is our home then we are mere sojourners here, and being visitors, we need to be careful of our conduct. "And if ye call on him as Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to each man's work, pass the time of your sojourning in fear" (1 Peter 1:17). The fear that he speaks of here is a double edged sword. Of course there is the fear of judgment, which I believe everybody understands. But there is also the fear of dishonor, with which few today are impressed. Dare we dishonor our fathers with unbecoming behavior? Dare we dishonor our heavenly father with behavior that will give occasion the enemy to gainsay his name?

Peter wrote again, "Beloved, I beseech you as sojourners and pilgrims, to abstain from fleshly lust, which war against the soul; having your behavior seemly among the Gentiles; that, wherein they speak against you as evil-doers, they may by your good works, which they behold, glorify God in the day of visitation" (1 Peter 2:11-12). Every now and then we have occasion to remark concerning someone that they are a credit to their father. We are to mind ourselves that our behavior draws praise to our father from those who know us. Are we a credit to God? Do we glorify him in our deeds?

I would like to be like Dad. If Dad has any great faults, it might be that he goes too far to give the benefit of the doubt. He is too trusting sometimes, and that has worked to his hurt. But I have seen the strength of his character when he faces the enemies of God. I have seen the strength of his character when in all calmness he answers the foolishness of those who have forsaken the word. I have seen the strength of his character when he admits that he has made a mistake, or when he has been capable of forgiving when others cannot. Those are all traits worthy of imitation.

I want to be an example to my children and grandchildren. I want to be able through my own life to point them in the right direction. I can only do this if I am an imitator of Jesus Christ. If I have anything to say to them, it would be first of all, "Be ye imitators of me, even as I also am of Christ" (1 Cor. 11:1).

There is great blessing in being like God in our characters. In various places and ways we are told this. Notice these passages: "Ye therefore shall be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect" (Matt. 5:48). "But like as he who called you is holy, be ye yourselves also holy in all manner of living; because it is written, Ye shall be holy; for I am holy" (1 Peter 1:15-16). "And every one that hath this hope set on him purifieth himself, even as he is pure" (1 John 3:3).

One lesson is apparent from this passage. We must imitate out heavenly father in matters of character.

What a privilege it is to be claimed by our fathers who have love us and given us their best! What an immeasurable privilege to be claimed by our heavenly father! It is by far the greatest blessing of the redeemed.

"Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called children of God; and such we are ..." (1 John 3:1).