THE SAD FATHER

By Michael K. Farrar, O.D.

© God’s Breath Publications

 

The two young boys walked down the dirt road exploring the countryside. On their right side was a wide-open field beckoning them to come play on its carpet of lush green grass.

 

“That’d be a great place to run and play.” Said Billy

 

“Yeah, but the sign on the fence says ‘No Trespassing.’” Replied Sammy

 

“I know, but no one will know if we just play a little while.”

 

“I don’t think we should. Daddy wouldn’t like it if we got in trouble.”

 

“He loves us so much I don’t think he’d mind. Even if we get in trouble he’ll forgive us. He always does.”

 

“Yeah, but it doesn’t make me feel good to do bad things.”

 

“Oh come on, he’s a grownup. He’ll get over it.”

 

“I’m going to stay here. You can go if you want.”

 

“You better not tell.”

 

“I won’t. But I’m not going to do something that dad wouldn’t want me to.”

 

“You’re going to miss out on a lot of fun.”

 

Billy steps off the road and spreads the sharp barbwire strands of the fence and carefully climbs through onto the forbidden green grass of the field. Once he clears the fence he runs as fast as he can and then tumbles onto the ground rolling over and over through the soft blades of grass.

 

“BANG!!!” A gunshot shatters the crisp morning air and echoes through the valley.

 

“What Ya doin’ in my field?”

 

Billy peeks up from the blades of grass scared to death. To his horror a large bearded man in dirty blue overhauls is walking towards him.

 

“I see ya hidin’ and if ya make a run fer it and I’ll shoot ya dead.”

 

Billy was frozen. The huge man reached young Billy and towered above him like an ugly giant from a scary fairytale.

 

“I know who ya are. You’re from down the road. What ya doin’ in my field?”

 

“Just playin’.”

 

“Well I don’t want anyone playin’ or anythin’ on my property. I should tan yer hide.”

 

“You touch me and you’ll have to answer to my daddy.”

 

“I’m not afraid of yer daddy, but I sure don’t know why he loves such a rebellious child. I herd about what ya did at the Foster farm, stealing those eggs and then throwing them at the Landry’s new car. I also know you’re responsible for that broken fence on my neighbor’s property. What’s wrong with ya kid? Don’t ya have any respect for anythin’ or anyone?”

 

Billy sits motionless paralyzed by fear.

 

“Come on, I’m takin’ yur brother and ya to your daddy.”

 

The large man grabs Billy by the arm and hauls him along while he barks orders to Sammy to follow along. Wide-eyed Sammy does as he is told. They get in the man’s old Ford pickup and head towards Billy and Sammy’s house. They drive down the long red dirt road and notice that Billy and Sammy’s dad is in the front yard cutting wood. Their dad stops cutting wood, recognizes the truck and hangs his head with a frown. He knows Billy has gotten in trouble again.

 

“Well I found somethin’ of yurs on my property.”

 

“Was Sammy and Billy giving you trouble?”

 

“Well Billy was, can’t say I have a problem with Sammy. Thought ya should know I’m a little tired of chasin’ him off my pasture. I don’t care what ya do, just keep him off my property and outta my hair!”

 

The large man climbs back in his truck, mumbles some cuss words under his breath.

His truck tires throw gravel as he speeds off down the road.

 

“Sammy, did you do anything wrong?”

 

“No daddy.”

 

“How about you Billy?”

 

“Well I just went into his pasture for a little bit. I didn’t hurt anything.”

 

“Well it was wrong Billy. You know he has signs posted that say stay out. I’ve told you lots of times to stay off his property. You’ve disobeyed me again and I’m very disappointed. I want you to go to your room while I get some work together for you to do for punishment.”

 

“Aw dad, I don’t wanta work.”

 

“ It’s either that or a switch behind the barn, now get.”

 

“Dad, what’d want me to do?” Sammy asked.

 

“Go play. Thanks for doing what I say.”

 

Sammy runs off to play while his father walks over to the side of the house, sits on the edge of the porch and bows his head. He begins to pray about what to do with his rebellious son. Tears come to his eyes as he grieves over the actions of his disobedient child. Sammy hears his dad sobbing and slowly comes up to his dad.

 

“Are you okay dad?”

 

“Yeah. It’s just painful when Billy doesn’t obey me. I talk with him, I punish him, I forgive him but he just doesn’t seem to want to do what I say. You kids are very important to me and I’m concerned about what you do. It’s a reflection on our family the way you behave and it’s important you learn how to do the right thing. Obeying what I say is very important to becoming a good man.”

 

Sammy gives his dad a big hug and sits down beside him. His dad puts his strong arm around him and pulls him to his side.

 

“Sammy will you pray with me for Billy?”

 

“Yes dad, maybe if we both pray for Billy he’ll be better at doing what you say.”

 

Are you a Billy or a Sammy? If you call Jesus your Lord and Savior are you obeying His commandments or are you in disobedience?

 

Just like the dad in the story, when you disobey your Heavenly Father you cause Him grief and it grieves the Holy Spirit. It pains Him to see you do things that dishonor His name and bring disgrace on His reputation. Your actions and activities are important to God. Yes, He is always ready and willing to forgive you, but sins of disobedience grieve God immensely. Don’t spit on the cross of Jesus’ sacrifice by disobeying God’s Word, ignoring the voice of the Holy Spirit and considering the wise counsel from other brothers and sisters in Christ who love you. Obedience is validation that you love Jesus and are truly saved from your sins. Seek to obey and honor your Heavenly Father.

 

 

1 Samuel 15:22

“To obey is better than sacrifice.”

 

John 14:15

“If you love me, you will obey what I command.”

 

Romans 2:13

“For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous.”

 

1 John 2:3-6

“We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands. The man who says, ‘I know him,’ but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But if anyone obeys his word, God’s love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.”

 

If you haven’t accepted Christ as your Savior, you’re not even in the family of God. God desires you to be part of His spiritual family by accepting the sacrifice Jesus Christ provided your sins when He died upon the cross. If you’ve never accepted Christ as your Savior and Lord, read the following verses, confess your sins and allow God through Christ to save you from your sins. He seeks you to be part of His spiritual family.

 

John 3:16-18

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. 17 “For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. 18 “He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”

 

Romans 10:9-10

“..if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved;”

 

1 John 1:9-10

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us.”