Prov 20:7 The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him.
Among the myriad of complexities that attend our times, there has been a detrimental role reversal among fathers and children. As one author asked, “Who’s In Charge?” The glaring issue is the increased gap between fathers and their children. Instead of the father, children are now leading the family in thought and ideology; a place that the father once occupied. Adding to the problem has been the rapid technological advances that seem to separate the family, especially in communication. The core problem has been the dismantling and “giving away” of the father’s authority. He has been diminished in the public square; belittled in the entertainment sector; and warred against in the spirit world for his spiritual role in the family structure. Surely these are perilous times, but these issues also reveal the coming of the Lord. Malachi raised his voice to say, Mal 4:5-6 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD: And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse. Luke reiterated the prophetic word in his opening address:
Luke 1:17 And he (Jesus) shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.
The last days will feature both a departure of respect and a reunion of the same. The Lord is going to turn the hearts of the children back to their fathers. The mother is not mentioned here for a specific reason. Fathers were commissioned to be the priest and leader of the family. Though they have been separated, Jesus is going to mend what has been broken. I am thankful for physical healings and miracles, but there is nothing like a mended family where a father finds honor and children see his integrity. The result of this spiritually and emotionally healthy relationship is a blessing on the lives of his children, “…his children are blessed after him.” His children find strength in that he is the leader in prayer, giving, worship, and work. His family is whole in that he speaks wisdom and correction in love.
Father’s Day must be more than a yearly recognition of Dad. We need to lift him up and offer him the place that God desired him to hold. Dad, you’re the head of the family. You are the leader and you are pivotal to the blessings of your sons and daughters. We honor you today because God has ordered it so. We honor you because we love you.
Pastor Jeffrey Harpole