It’s been said an apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. In the same way, our life reveals our origin story, our father. For better or worse, we are the sons of our father.
For instance, it’s not surprising when the son of a professional athlete displays his own athletic prowess, the son of a preacher has more theological knowledge than most, or the son of an entrepreneur or business tycoon is well versed in financial risks and supply and demand considerations. This is not to suggest they will do the same work their fathers did, but they cannot escape his influence all the same. It becomes part of their DNA.
Jesus once corrected a crowd of people who claimed Abraham as their father – making it clear that if Abraham was really their father then they would follow his example. And if God was their true Father then they would love Jesus because he came from God. But they are, in fact, following the example of their real father, the devil, because they love to do the evil things he does.
Our father is also the devil when we love darkness, lies, and division. It’s not enough to merely claim to be followers of Jesus when our daily life does not bear this fruit.
We are our father’s sons. Who is our father?
When God is our true father then our lives are devoted to becoming more like Jesus. We learn to love what he loves and do the things he does. Of course, we will do it in our own unique ways, but it remains clear who has shaped and influenced our approach to life. Our love of God and identity in Christ permeates every aspect of our being.
In the end, you are your father’s son – following his example and shaped by his influence. Who is your father?
Photo by Danielle Torres on Unsplash
