Perceive what manner of love the Father has given us, that we may be called children of God! And we are! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of God, and it was not yet manifested what we shall be. We are aware that, if He should be manifested, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him according as He is.
The First Epistle of John 3: 1-2, Concordant New Testament
I recall a man who, having divorced his wife after only a few years of marriage, left behind not only her, but his two boys as well. Thinking the the grass was greener on the other side of that fence, this man lived his life doing as he wanted. However, as the years passed, one thing continued to pull upon his conscience. That being what his sons thought of him. Did they remember him? Despite his thinking of them often, his own pride prevented him from reaching out to them, leaving him to wonder what could have been. I thought of this the other day as I was going through a podcast with my friend and sidekick. Our conversation turned to what the greatest desire of God may be. Without hesitation, we agreed that the greatest desire of the Father is that He be known by His children. This is what God wants. Like the man who walked out on his family, our heavenly Father also desires for His children to come to know Him. God has declared that we are His children {First Epistle of John 3:1, Johns Account 1:12}. This seems logical, after all it is God who has created us in His own likeness {Genesis 1:27}. We are His children created in His image. As my friend and I discussed this truth of the Father, the question turned to what father among us does not want for his children to know him? Yes, we can testify that our earthly fathers have a desire to feel wanted and known by their own children. This is a known fact of our human nature. Why would it not be so with God as well? While God is not human, we were created in His likeness with His image as well as His desires as well. In our hearts, we know what God wants. If I were a father, I would definitely want for my children to know me. Thus it is with God.
Yet whoever obtained Him, to them He gives the right to become children of God, to those who are believing in his name, who were begotten, not of bloods, neither of the will of the flesh, neither of the will of man, but of God.
Johns Account 1: 12-13, Concordant New Testament
I think that it's safe to say that while we're young, it is much easier to know our parents than it is when we become older. When young, our parents are a continual part of our growing years. They guide us, protect us and nurture us as we navigate our way through life. Yet it's what happens next which I believe tears at the heart of every father and mother. Through the course of time, children grow up and began to experience life on their own. We now see two competing desires, that of the parent wanting to be known and remembered by their children, and that of the child wanting to live their life on their own. I recall visiting my mother in the care facility and seeing how excited she was to see me each day. But her excitement became a bit of sadness when it was time for me to leave once again. I can imagine that it's this way with all parents. I have seen more than few close knit families in my time, and I believe that it is these strong bonds which balance out the parents need to be known and the child's desire for a life of their own. How must God feel (Yes, God has feelings) when the child He gave life to does not know Him? One of my favorite parables of Jesus is that of the prodigal son. This kid, feeling his oats so they say, approached his dad one day to tell him that he wanted to have his inheritance that he might travel and experience the world outside of his home. We're told that his father willingly gave this unto his son. The boy then takes his money and hightails it to Las Vegas, or wherever it is that he went. In his travels, the lad squanders the money his father had given to him and eventually finds himself broke busted. Seeing no way out, the child decides that he will return once again to his father in humility and seek to work for him, as his fathers servants ate and lived better than he was. So the child returned home once again. Yet, when he was still afar off, the boys father saw him coming and "His father perceived him and has compassion" {Lukes Account 15:20}. I believe that part of what Jesus was illustrating here is the Fathers reaction when one of His own children come to know Him. His desire is not to condemn you for turning from Him, but to love you as His child. For this is what God wants.
~Scott~
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