Everlasting Father
Scripture Passage: Isaiah 9:6
This special prophetic word of Isaiah has some very interesting ideas and words which relate to Jesus. We have studied about the Wonderful Counsellor. Jesus is always willing to comfort and help us when we need advice and help. Jesus is the mighty God. Jesus did many miracles and helped many people. He will give his power to us if we are following Him. That power is not just for ourselves but to help others. Jesus was called God in Isaiah 9:6. As the mighty God we need to worship and obey him. Today's expression "The Everlasting Father." is from Isaiah 9:6
In the New Testament Jesus spoke often of God as his heavenly Father. Here Jesus himself is called the everlasting Father. Isaiah tells us would be a child born who would become the father of the everlasting. On the one hand we might say that this shows the unity of God. On the other hand we are left with difficulty explaining the expression "Everlasting Father" referring to Jesus. I looked into the books which I could and I think there is a very simple explanation. This is very important to everyone.
The word "father" in Hebrew has several meanings. Of course one of those meanings is the man who has a child but there are a number of times this word is used in names of ladies. Thus there must be a different idea when it is used in names or titles. This word can be translated author or creator of something. When we use this meaning in Isaiah 9:6 we see that it fits very well. Jesus is the author, creator, originator of the everlasting.
We live about 80-90 years on this world so we have difficulty understanding something like "eternity". It is like the blind men who tried to explain what an elephant was like. The one blind man grabbed the trunk of an elephant and said the elephant was like a huge hose or enormous snake. The second blind man felt the leg of the elephant and said that the elephant was like a tree. The third blind man grabbed the elephant's tail and said the elephant was like a rope. Perhaps any explanation I can give this morning about eternity will be a little like those blind men. If we approach the subject from different sides, we will be able to understand a little more about the past, the present, and the future.
The Bible teaches that there are three types of beings. One type has a beginning and an end. The second one has a beginning and no end. The third type has no beginning and no end. Animals have a beginning and when they die that is the end. Man has a definite beginning which starts when he is conceived. Every person ever born will life forever, either with God or apart from God. On this earth people have a beginning and end but their soul and spirit will continue forever. This body will die but some day God will give us a new body just like He did for Jesus.
Angels are also created beings which have a beginning but live forever .Only God. has no beginning and no end. God is eternal. Part of the excitement of being a Christian is that we will share in God's eternal nature. The Bible tells us when we believe in Jesus, we will have everlasting life.
Many people do not like to think of the future. They are afraid to die. They keep themselves so busy in the present. They do not think of the future. When people get older they begin to think even more seriously about death and the possibility of life after death. For the Christian there is joy and freedom in these thoughts because of all God's wonderful promises about the future. Christians do not need to fear death nor the judgement which God promises after death.
This kind of peace and calm assurance can only be found in Jesus Christ. Jesus is the link between this present world and the future world. He is the first one who has overcome death itself and was raised from the death to live forever. Jesus is the author or creator of eternity. What does the New Testament say about Jesus and eternal life?
Jesus, the eternal one, was sent to this world to bring eternal life to all men. Let's read John 6:27-29 "'Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. On him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.' They the asked him, 'What must we do to do the works God requires?' Jesus answered, 'The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.'" We need to work for the Kingdom of God. There are so many millions in Japan who have not experienced the joy of knowing God and his son Jesus. We need to work to tell people. Before we can share with others we ourselves must be experiencing God's love and goodness in our life. Jesus will rescue us from depression and difficulties. The more we fellowship with God the more joy and happiness we will experience. Jude 21 "Keep yourselves in God's love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life." Fellowship with God is necessary. We need to take time to stop and reflect on God, His goodness, His beauty and His word.
The world around us gives us temporary happiness and thrills but we need to look at the future. The soul of man will continue forever. In what condition will you continue after death? Romans 6:22,23 "But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Eternal life is given to us when we believe in Jesus Christ.
Jesus gives us a purpose for living and a joy for helping others. Satan is the destroyer. Sin destroys our soul and wastes our time here on earth. "Most people in the world are existing, not living. What they live for does not satisfy fully and will not last eternally. Men are living on substitutes and substitutes are robbing them of the true experiences of life. Freedom and joy only comes from God. Living according to the Bible brings joy and excitement. Instead of investing time in eternity most people are just existing from one week to the next here on earth. The person who trusts Jesus Christ can experience a full life with joy, peace, and contentment. Ps. 31:15 says "Our time is in his hand." Jesus lived for others. We need to make the best use of time for the sake of the Kingdom and evaluate our goals and activities in light of eternity.
When God is guiding and controlling our lives we have a unique peace. We know that we connected to the greatest, the strongest power in the universe. God is a personal God and He cares for each one of His children. He protects and comforts. He watches over us as a mother takes care of her little child. He provides, leads and takes care of our physical needs as a Father. Jn 10:27,28 "My sheep listen to my voice; I know them and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand." What a wonderful promise about God's care for His children.
That promise is repeated in I Jn 2:24,25. "See that what you have heard from the beginning remains in you. If it does, you also will remain in the Son and in the Father. And this is what He promised us - even eternal life." The source or father of eternal life is Jesus Christ. We are to remain in Him.
"Jesus Christ made us for eternity. To reject him is to miss the very purpose for which we were created. Jesus came to earth to reveal eternity, and He died to give us eternal life. He lives to make eternity a real experience for us day by day, as He controls and conquers time.... As the Father of Eternity He will one day return to take us to a glorious eternal home." (Wersbe p 83) Our life as a Christian is only beginning here on this earth. I Thess. 4:16,17 tells us that some day Christ will come for us and we will have a chance to live with God forever.
We can put our money into an account at the bank. We might get 1% interest if it is only there for a short time. If we invest it for a longer time - 2 or 3 years - we can get maybe 2%. We can invest our time and money for things which last only in this life. We can have the joy of helping others with our money. But we can double our investment by working for and giving to the Kingdom of God. Not only do we have joy here on this earth but we a the reward in heaven. We will receive eternal life. Everyone who is a wise investor will be investing not just for this world. When we believe on the Father of Eternity will invest for a future time after death.