When I think of the greatness of this great plan I fall on my knees before God the Father from whom all fatherhood, earthly or heavenly, derives its name…Ephesians 3.15.
This is a unique translation of Ephesians 3.15. Here, the Vicar, J. B. Phillips, is telling us that all fatherhood, be it now good or bad, is only a vague copy of the archetype – our Father in Heaven.
| The amazing thinker, Plato, was convinced that all things and ideas on the earth like horses, humans, beauty, love etc, and even gods, are all an imperfect copy or poor imitation of the true original somewhere else in time and space. This would make the Father, (the first person of the Trinity) the most perfect, patient, sensitive, empathetic, caring, loving, and fairest Father of all…… and that is true for the Son, Jesus, and the Holy Ghost – a Trinity of Love. |
You may remember the Film “The Killing Fields”? It’s a true story. The man on the left is Dith Pan. He was captured by Khmer Rouge – a violent and sadistic political group that took over Cambodia. He is forced to be a slave in the home a Khmer leader. When the leader himself comes under the threat of the organisation, he gives his tiny son to Dith with an order to get him to safety. This is the son of a leader of an evil terrorist group, who has killed 50 of Dith’s family, and then enslaved Dith himself. STILL….Dith cares and feeds the little boy, and loves him as his own, taking giant risks to save him. This is picture of our heavenly Father – although we come from sin and rebellion, He loves us, and out of sheer kindness will completely rescue us.
His friends encourage him to retrace his journey using Google Earth. After days and days of searching down the railway lines from Calcutta, he finally recognises a place stored in his mind from the age of five. He then locates his village and travels to India for a joyful meeting with his family.
How Important are Our Childhood Memories?
The film “Lion” tells the true story of a little five-year old boy called Saroo. Saroo is helping his brother steal coal from trains. He gets lost, and after various distressing events, Saroo winds up in an orphanage in Calcutta. From there he is adopted by a loving Australian couple and brought up, nine and a half thousand miles away in Hobart, Tasmania. As he grows up, he is educated and successful, and at the age of 25 has a lovely girlfriend and many good friends, but he is constantly haunted by his vague memories of belonging somewhere else.
Nowadays, like Saroo, there is an urgency to know more about our early years, our relatives and our ancestors; a deep longing to come to an understanding of our origins. When we come to know God as our Father, it has three huge effects on us:
- Identity: I know who I am – I am a Child of God. The Lord Himself is caring for me. The Lord has an amazing plan for my life, now and in my heavenly home. This is not a vague religious idea – it is objective truth!
- Self-Worth: I’m not from a posh background. I’m not as well educated as others. I don’t have the skills or personality to stand out in a crowd. When you suddenly realise that you are a child of God; that the Lord Himself is your Father forever – a whole new vista of wonderful opportunities opens up before you, because to Him, YOU are the pearl of greatest price.
- Security: I’m safe forever in the everlasting arms of Jesus. He will provide for me, and become the Shepherd who will guide me safely through the whole of my life – “The King of Love my Shepherd is whose goodness faileth never…..”
Heavenly Father, I have nothing but years of sin and failure to give You. In Your kindness and grace come now, to rescue me, that I might experience the fulness of Your love and power. Amen.
Revd. Trevor