p. 8 | THE FATHERHOOD OF GOD by J. O. C.

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Aug 11, 1914

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 41, No. 31.

THE FATHERHOOD OF GOD

By J. O. C.

He Seeks by Numerous Illustrations to Show His Love—By the Tenderness of This Love He Would Draw All Men to Him

"LIKE as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear Him." Ps. 103:13. These are the assuring words given by one who had experienced many life vicissitudes. By these he had been made to know the strength of fatherhood love, from which pity is generated. Not only have human fathers been known to yield up life in efforts to save children, but the same natural impulse has also led brute affection to meet death in the endeavor to protect offspring. This attribute is doubtless a grant from the Author of life, and therefore must be an offshoot, or outgo, from the divine fountain of fatherhood.

But considering for a moment the low estate to which sin has reduced the mentality of the human family, one must conclude that although the characteristic under examination seems quite pronounced in man, it must have been infinitely more conspicuous had not iniquity entered to disfigure God's image in the human, and so to neutralize his power of love attachment. Man in his natural state is, in consequence, deprived of the fulness of this peculiarity that was once delivered to him.

HIS VERY NAME IS LOVE

Our heavenly Father, however, yet retains the fountain of that love with which man was at first endowed, but has so largely lost. Indeed, His very name is love, because He is love. 1 John 4:8. But no man having actually seen God at any time (John 1:18), and love being of that nature which can not be comprehended through the use of words alone, its incarnation in flesh was actually necessary to reveal the real operative principle of divine fatherhood. Therefore the "only-begotten" of Divinity came to earth in flesh to reveal that love, as the Father's only possible representative. John 3:16.

This revelation was unfolded through both oral and practical methods. To make plain the meaning of His verbal expressions of love, figurative incidents were employed which were founded on ordinary occurrences of daily life, but told in a turn of expression different from that which was common to established human inclination. This was especially the case when on a certain occasion the Pharisees complained of His receiving sinners, and eating with them.

On the occasion mentioned, the detail of His story was based on two illustrations. The first was that of a man having a hundred

sheep, one of which had strayed away. The owner left the ninety and nine to themselves while he went to the shadowy, abandoned wilderness to seek the one lost member of his original and beloved flock, which he actually found, and returned with rejoicing to the fold.

The conclusion drawn from this was that in heaven there is more joy over the repentance of a single sinner, than over ninety-nine already just persons who have no need of repentance. But this was only one phase of infinite love expressed in behalf of one individual straying from the heavenly Father's care. Luke 15:4-7.

SEARCH FOR THE LOST SILVER

But the unsparing diligence with which the search for that lost one is prosecuted, was then uncovered in a following parable showing a woman having lost one of her ten pieces of silver. Although separated from her purse, she considered the money as yet hers, and it must be restored to its place. So preceding her search, she produced a light by which to scan every dark corner of the place. She next began carefully to sweep every part of the house, stirring up the entire accumulations of its earthen floor, all the time peering intently about for the lost treasure. That work was pursued until the lost coin was found.

But in doing this, every other duty was made to rest until the object of the search was accomplished. However, this did not end the matter. So glad indeed was the searcher that her pursuit was rewarded, that her neighbors were called together to rejoice with her over the success achieved. This parable, we learn from the context, was uttered to express the joy all the angels of heaven participate in at the recovery of a single lost soul to join the family of our heavenly Father.

STORY OF THE PRODIGAL

It must be, therefore, that the infinite Father will in no wise retard the progress of a soul's return, but rather will do all in His power of creative virtue to hasten that return. That this is so, the story of the prodigal son has fully demonstrated.

Briefly set forth, the account is this: The younger of the two sons who constituted a certain father's household, became uneasy, and demanded a division of the hereditary estate, that he might go to a land beyond the confines of his father's jurisdiction. He went, and soon wasted all his inherited substance in riotous living, which included association with harlotry. In fact, he became entirely bad. In time a mighty famine overtook him, and nothing was at hand to satisfy his terrible hunger longing. So low, indeed, was he reduced that, having been permitted to tend swine in the fields of a stranger, he longed to share the food they had, even the husks that they trampled under their feet.

THE FATHER'S GREAT LOVE

Coming to his senses, and recalling the plenty in his father's home, he resolved to return thither, and humbly beg to be there received and treated as a mere servant. But while he was yet a great way from home, the father's great heart-love led him to go out and meet the prodigal—his own long lost son. Putting his arms about the repentant's neck, he planted a kiss of welcome and forgiveness upon his brow, even before there was any confession of wrong-doing. When, however, this did come forth, and the humiliating request was made to stand in the family as only a field servant, the petition was met by the father's order for the best robe to be brought and put on him. He also called for a royal feast to be served in gladsome honor of a deeply mourned and long lost son.

COVERS THE NEEDS OF EACH

If this recital means anything, it covers the needs of each individual, however well it may be applied to Gentiles in general. This is made plain from the Saviour's assertion that the fall of a single sparrow to the ground is distinctly noticed by Him whose creation it is. This being so, not a single individual, as he is of infinitely more value than a sparrow, can possibly be passed silently by in the great and wondrous plan of salvation. Matt. 10:29-32.

ASK, AND IT SHALL BE GIVEN

The conditions to this end are amply revealed: "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you." Luke 11:9. There is added to this the thought that if the son of an earthly father should ask that parent for food, he would not be taunted by the offer of something undesirable, and perhaps detrimental. How much more, then, will the infinite Father, filled with ineffable love, yearning with goodness of desire toward His children, give good things, even the grace of the Holy Spirit, to every one asking for it!

He is truly waiting for any poor soul on the verge of despair, to prove the truthfulness of His word. Then come to Him as to a loving father, and He will surely verify His asserted character of infinite love. J. O. C.