Hold Me Close

Even if my father and mother abandon me, the LORD will hold me close. [Psalm 27.10]

Three days ago, I wrote a little piece thinking my earthly father would pass from this life on that day. Well, he did not pass that day but instead lived until midday yesterday. 

I miss him so much today that it physically hurts.

How in the world could it be that the Lord orchestrated His Grand Master Plan so that Pop would die yesterday, and I would read the verse above (as well as the entire day's reading) in today's OYCB? It just blows me away. But I know that He, my heavenly Father, holds me close. He is holding me close right now. He will never let me go - He will never abandon me.

I don't hold my earthly father responsible for abandoning me. How could he not do so? He was a man - a sinner - living this life in that condition while maintaining faith in Jesus Christ as his Redeemer - his Savior. In fact, Pop did what all of us will eventually do - he finished his fight - he completed his race - the breath of his life left him and he now rests with those gone before him - abandoning those behind him.

Here's the deal though... I am certain, hurt as I am, that my earthly father believed in Jesus Christ while on this earth. I had the opportunity over the last few days of Pop's life to witness his hesitancy to leave this earth - to leave those whom for years he cared for. He struggled with himself like all of us struggle with ourselves - he was undoubtedly thinking he could have done more to lead us to Christ - he shed tears of sadness, remorse, and repentance in the end. He also shed tears of joy knowing his boys and their families are believers. We cried with him and rejoiced to see and hear his faith as we prayed with him releasing him to his Heavenly Father's arms. And, this is why I know he now rests in peace in the arms of God.

Jesus made it perfectly clear in Luke 24.47: There is forgiveness of sins for all who repent.

You see, I know this about my earthly father - not that he just repented at the end, but that he often repented in those times he spent alone with God. Yes, he was at times, for many who knew him the best, insufferable. I have to say I know this because I am just like him. I find myself at the end of a conversation or encounter with others feeling the need to repent because I failed to overcome my sin nature. But I KNOW this: There is forgiveness of sins for all who repent.

I want all who know me to know this: There IS forgiveness of sins for all who repent.

Most of us, like my dad, are, or will become, a parent. All of us, like Pop, will, in death, eventually abandon our children. We simply cannot avoid it - like the very sin nature we are born with. But what we can do is repent because there is forgiveness of sins for all who do so. And, when we repent and are known for doing so, those we abandon, no matter how much we love them (but still leave them), are shown the Way long after we have abandoned them and gone. They too will be able to say, "Even if my father and mother abandon me, the LORD will hold me close."

So, I want to permanently be on record here today of declaring my gratitude to God for my earthly father who, in spite of his shortcomings (as mostly only closest family ever even knew), showed me the Way to God.

Father in heaven, thank You for Pop. Thank You for the 60 years of my life with him as my earthly father. Thank You for not necessarily "coddling me" with my dad, but instead showing me the amazing grace and forgiveness that is found only in You through Your Son Jesus Christ. AMEN.