Pastor’s Thoughts – 06/21/2026

There are two well-known events celebrated this month in our country. They are Pride Month and Father’s Day. These two celebrations are completely incompatible. While this is occurring, the war with Iran has come to an inconclusive peace because minds and hearts are unchanged. Ebola has dangerously broken out in Africa. At the same time there are many in the world finding their excitement in the World Cup. In this confusion we as Christian’s turn to the Bible. Seeing our world through spiritual eyes is most important. Paul writes, “But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come” (2Tim. 3:1). The times he speaks of are particularly difficult for Christians. He then goes on to describe the difficulties that come as the world grows more and more in opposition to a godly mindset. We are in those last days characterized by vain attitudes, wickedness, and resulting trials. God, however, sets our thinking and priorities with a most revealing latter-day pronouncement and promise. “For behold, the day is coming, burning like a furnace; and all the arrogant and every evildoer will be chaff; and the day that is coming will set them ablaze, says the Lord of armies, so that it will leave them neither root nor branches. But for you who fear My name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings; and you will go forth and frolic like calves from the stall” (Malachi 4:1-2).

Knowing this, the perspective of Christians and our responsibility is to fear, believe, and love God. We must recognize the emptiness of following the world’s vain answers and trends. Instead, we are to remain consistent in our faithfulness. Paul said, ” But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness, so that the day would overtake you like a thief; for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness; so then, let’s not sleep as others do, but let’s be alert and sober” (1 Thess. 5:4-6).

As it is Father’s Day weekend, let us appropriately consider our Heavenly Father. It is He who sets the absolute standard of righteousness and faithfulness. In the midst of declining values and immeasurable troubles, no one is perfectly faithful like He is. He does not change. He not only brings each new day to us with meaning and purpose but does so in spite of our unworthiness. It is He that sovereignly feeds and cares for us through all the situations of life. Is there any Father like our Father in His long-suffering endurance with His rebellious creation? It is He that formed our families and gave us earthly fathers to care for us in our developing years. It is He who willingly sacrificed His own Son to restore our relationship to Him. Not only has He brought us every step of the way, but it is He that will move us from this difficult life to a glorious undeserving future in eternity. There is no Father like our Heavenly Father!

The pattern for fathers on this Father’s Day is not something we can find in our society, but only by considering our Triune God and our Heavenly Father. One of the tragedies of our day is the small attention to contemplation of the glory of God. Christians are to be like Him, and fathers should seek to follow His example given to us. Those who increase in such knowledge have true wisdom guiding them through all the circumstances of life. God’s pattern as a Father establishes our thinking and guides our actions toward our children and others. We are commanded to, “Be perfect as He is perfect” (Matt. 5:48). He is our role model for all things.

We should always be thankful knowing that God our Father is the cause of every and all blessings. “What do we have that we did not receive?” (1 Cor. 4:7), and “Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of Lights” (James 1:17). David says it this way, “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and do not forget any of His benefits; who pardons all your guilt, who heals all your diseases; who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with favor” (Ps. 103:2-4). It is God alone who takes care of our immediate life and circumstances, and our future. And God’s character is seen by a word often repeated in the Psalms that is translated, “lovingkindness” which means His covenant faithfulness and infinite love. God’s character is totally reliable. He has no so-called temperamental days. “God is not a man, that He would lie, nor a son of man, that He would change His mind; Has He said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good” (Num. 23:19)? And, He is the definition of being compassionate. “Just as a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him” (Ps. 103:13). He is also charitable and gracious. “He has not rewarded us according to our iniquities” (Ps. 103:10).

On this coming Father’s Day, stop and thank God for being our Father. It is no wonder that it is such a terrible sin to have other gods before Him. We should find all our satisfaction and hope in Him who is inseparable from our Savior. To have God as our Father through His Son, which He gave on our behalf, is the greatest news ever conceived. It is to be celebrated by worship and thankful praise to Him!