Forty years ago, Time magazine warned that the crisis in the family has implications that extend far beyond the walls of the home. In a Dec. 28, 1970, article, Time quoted the founder of the American Institute of Family Relations as saying, “No society has ever survived after its family life deteriorated” (emphasis mine).
Look around today! Wouldn’t you say that institute founder knew what he was talking about? Family breakdown is having disastrous effects—and they are going to get far worse.
Remember what Mr. Armstrong wrote: “The very foundation of any stable civilization is the solid family structure. … Nothing in this material world is as important as a happy home life with father, mother and well-taught happy children—a close-knit family.”
The fact that the physical family is an exact type of the God Family should inspire us all to forsake the filth of this world and strengthen our families!
Every father should study the example of God the Father to see how to lead his family. God says to His children, “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” (Hebrews 13:5). When He begets a child, He commits Himself to fulfilling His responsibility toward that child! If you study this scripture in the original Greek language, you will see it is written for maximum emphasis. There are five negatives. Though a good literal translation isn’t really possible, in essence God is saying, “I will never, never, never, never, never forsake you!” What a wonderful Father!
God honors His children. Think about when a physical father is watching his young child learn to walk. The baby is bound to stumble and fall. The father doesn’t focus on the stumbles. He looks at when the child takes a step! As soon as the child steps, that really excites him! The same is true of God the Father. He is moved and stirred when He sees His children take spiritual steps, and begin to walk and live and act like Him! That kindles within Him strong feelings of love.
In 1 Corinthians 10:13, He tells His people that He will never allow them to suffer a trial greater than they can bear. Yes, He does allow trials at times. He does chasten and correct His children (e.g. Deuteronomy 8:5; Hebrews 12:5-11). But He knows His children so intimately that He knows exactly where to draw the line in a trial that will develop their character! That is a promise that reveals His great depth of understanding about you and love for all His children.
The parable of the prodigal son, recorded in Luke 15, also shows that love. The son rebelled against his father and fled to the world. He soon realized that his life had become a wreck. He recognized just how good he had lived under his father. He decided to turn things around, and he returned to his father in a repentant state. How did the father in this parable respond? Exactly the way God the Father responds when one of His children repents: He hugged and kissed his son! He was full of joy! He truly celebrated his son’s return.
Yes, God is a loving Father. He’s not like a father—He is the ultimate Father! And He’s perfect. He said, If you, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more do I, in whom there is no evil? (Matthew 7:11).
God gave His own Son to pay for our sins so that, when we repent and accept that sacrifice, God can open up His Family to us!
He gives us incredible honor. We all must learn to honor Him back, as Jesus Christ did. As Christ told us in Matthew 18:1-4, in order to enter God’s Kingdom we must humble ourselves as little children. That means seeing God, and honoring Him, as our Father!
Thank you Mr. Flurry! The opportunities we have to support the father in the family structure to strengthen the design in Gods Family structure, for the ultimate joy of Christ our Husband to magnify Father, are most necessary to take advantage of and learn the government lesson. May we all learn it deeply
Wow, Im psyched over this 1 Mr Flurry! Thank you SO much 4 this as Ive had to sacrifice my physical father and many other family members for God. But to be reminded He will never forsake us and when we humble ourselves so we can learn to walk like God, Ive had to accept they will indeed be baby steps! Ive had to repent of my rebellion too and keep repenting daily! Life is different when you see things as God does. Thank you once again
An inspiring article and a great compliment to God’s Family Government booklet that I just read. Great parallels showing the importance of Our Spiritual Father and the physical father within each family. What great purpose there is in Honoring The Father! what great purpose we all have! The Incredible Human Potential is a fantastic book that explains why we were born-what our true purpose is in life-I would recommend everyone, on this earth, read it!
What a moving and very inspiring article. So much Spiritual Knowledge to take in knowing that Honoring your Father and your Mother is a Commandment of God!! Thank you!!
This is a very enlightening article! In my own experience, I think that the most important aspect in religion is to understand deeply the gospel message of Christ. The Father is the heart and core of the gospel. A lot of people think that Jesus Christ is the gospel, and the Kingdom of God is in the hearts of men. It is shocking that even most of God’s people follow this belief. Satan deceived them all. But God knows who follow His voice!
I don’t know what kind of comfort zone I had when a father is around.A family creates a situation, that even drugs cannot penetrate to come into our thinking.I’m glad that during my university days when I was away from them, my uncle & his family serves as my father.I made an accounting of strong manly character inherited from them.
Thank you Mr. Flurry for sharing its spiritual equivalent.
one way the devil destroys the “traditional” family (father,mother,children) is by gay marriages. the FATHER figure is discarded.
Came to know true love
lessons learned; Love I thy Law equates to God’s Family Government being administered in our physical Families sharing an out going concern for the one’s being loved, laying down our lives, putting them before our own self and always teaching them that the Father must always come first in everything we do.
Thank you, Mr. Flurry for being a loving example of our Father and his Son in the humility and strong spiritual strengths of God’s character you exemplify. Agape’
Christianity of today rejects any other god head than Christ. If they were to recognize the father they would have to admit to something other than an effeminate all forgiving Christ who accepts every one on their own terms. Their belief allows them to believe and not change, not to follow his example. The truth is so much better than what they have.. Some day they will come to know it..
We are so blessed now, to know and to see what we do.
THANKS
“Then, this verse tells us that Christ actually devoted His earthly ministry to declaring His Father!”
This essential truth is lost on so many. We must look to the Father like Christ did.
“Throughout Scripture there is instruction to fathers that they must lead their families in love.”
The father’s role as a leader, teacher, provider, and disciplinarian is an awesome responsibility! God is love and He is the ultimate Father!
Being a father of a large family , ( 10 …7 boys ..3 girls ), the eldest of whom is now 52, I find it much easier to relate as to how our Heavenly Father feels about us……Partic the mercy, protection from harm, desire to instruct and teach, firmness when required, leadership ….truth of word …….and personal example.
Thank you, Mr. Furry. This is a wonderful article every father needs to read. Our heavenly Father is truly the role model for all fathers.
Thank you Mr Flurry for remind us that God is not like a father but the ultimate Father. What a privelege and an honour to have this kind of knowledge, thank you Father