"A FATHER'S LOVE!"

PSALM 38:1-22

An incredible event took place at the Barcelona Olympics of 1992. A runner from Britain, Derek Redmond, had trained for and worked toward and dreamed about winning a gold medal in the 400-meter race. The starting gun sounded in the semifinals and his aspiration seemed attainable. As he ran the race of his life, he could see the finish line as he rounded the turn into the backstretch. Suddenly, Derek felt a sharp pain go up the back of his leg. He ran with difficulty for a few steps and then began to stumble. His father, watching from the stands, became keenly alert to his son's difficulty. As you and I press on through life, we grow weak and we struggle and we, too, often stumble badly, and our difficulties do not escape the attention of our Father.

• OUR FATHER NOTICES WHEN WE ARE WEAK AND STRUGGLING: VV3-9:

• Sometimes we want to put on a front; we want others to think everything is okay and we are in control; we don't want their pity, or curiosity, or disrespect. A mask of courage, a facade of strength, a pretense of power may well fool others around us and protect our image.
• But our sighing is not hidden from God! Our way is not hidden from Him! He has not failed to take notice! He has not drifted off into disinterested sleep. The Psalmist said, "behold, He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep." Psalms 121:4. God sees, God knows, and God cares.
• Let's make it personal here. Let's bring this into life:
• You may be weighted down with debt and financial pressures. God knows all about that and has promised to meet all your needs.
• You may be struggling with a deep-seated sense of failure and frustration. God is aware of it and cares.
• You may be weak in some moral area of life and may be struggling with temptation to sin. God sees it.
• You may be grappling with some personal relationship. Maybe you are at odds with a parent, or a sibling, or one of your children, or a friend. You want to reconcile, but you are having a difficult time. God recognizes your weakness.
• You may be weak spiritually right now. You just can't seem to pray with power; you read the bible and forget it as soon as you close it; you have to force yourself to come to worship; your witness has dried up. God perceives the problem, and cares.
• In all our weakness, in all our struggles, in all our futility, he speaks to us as He did to the disciples in Gethsemane, "Keep watching and praying, that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak." Matthew 26:41.
• The wonderful invitation still sounds out, still waits our rsvp: "Come to me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28. If you're struggling, He invites you to come to Him for rest. So, let me tell you a secret about a father's love, you see, father's don't just love their children every now and then, it's a love without end, even when we are weak, amen!

Derek was struggling, and his father was watching from the stands. The pain in Derek's leg was the result of a torn right hamstring. He tried to run, but stumbled and fell face first onto the track and winced in agony. As help was approaching, Derek fought to his feet and began hopping toward the finish line in a desperate effort to finish the race. But he had fallen, and was now far behind. Suddenly, his father came out of the stands, brushed aside the security guard and ran to Derek. Putting his arms around his injured son, he helped him stay on his feet. In our weakness, we often stumble; but in that very moment, our Father is there to help.

• OUR FATHER LIFTS US WHEN WE HAVE FALLEN: VV17-18:

• Our strength fails us; our foot slips. Sometimes we suffer the weakness of the flesh, and we sin. We disobey. We fall.
• But the Psalmist says, "the steps of a man are established by the Lord; and He delights in his way. When he falls, he shall not be hurled headlong; because the Lord is the one who holds his hand." Psalms 37:23-24
• Those of us who have watched our own children struggle to walk also watched them fall. They'd take a teetering step or two and then topple over, but we'd be there to take them by the hand. Or later, when they were learning to ride a bicycle or to roller skate, they'd take a spill or two. That's part of the learning procedure. But when they fell, we were there to pick them up. We didn't kick them; we didn't berate them; we didn't disown them. Nor does our Father! He lifts us! He stabilizes us. He is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of his glory blameless with great joy, Jude 24.
• But when that inevitable fall comes, God is there to lift us and to encourage us and to help us. So, let me tell you a secret about a father's love, you see, father's don't just love their children every now and then, it's a love without end, even when we fall, amen!

Derek's father came to his side and spoke kindly. "You don't have to do this," he told his weeping son. "Yes, I do," Derek said, through clenched teeth. "Then," said his father, "we're going to finish this together." And the two of them pressed on; sometimes Derek's head was buried in his father's shoulder, but they stayed in his lane all the way to the finish line. When you are overwhelmed by the hard happenings of life, you will never face them alone. You have the Father by your side.

• OUR FATHER IS WITH US SO WE DON'T HAVE TO STRUGGLE ALONE: V21:

• One there is above all others, oh how He loves, his is love beyond a brother's, oh how He loves. Earthly friends may fail and grieve us; one day bless, the next deceive us, but this friend will never leave us, oh how He loves.
• God has given us unfailing promises:
• To Jacob God said: "And behold, I am with you, and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you." Genesis 28:15.
• To Moses He said: "My presence shall go with you, and I will give you rest." Exodus 33:14.
• To Israel about to cross into the promised land, Moses spoke: "Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them, for the Lord your God is the one who goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you." Deuteronomy 31:6.
• David said to his son solomon who would build the temple: "be strong and courageous, and act; do not fear nor be dismayed, for the Lord God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you nor forsake you until all the work for the service of the house of the Lord is finished." 1 Chronicles 28:20.
• Psalms 46:1 "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble."
• Jesus promised his disciples: "i will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you." John 14:18.
• We sing the truth, let's believe and live by it:
• "He walks with me, and He talks with me, and He tells me I am his own!"
• "No, never alone, no never alone. He promised never to leave me, never to leave me alone."
• So, let me tell you a secret about a father's love, you see, father's don't just love their children every now and then, it's a love without end even if He has to carry us to the finish, amen!

As Derek and his father crossed the finish line, the crowd rose and cheered and wept. He didn't win a gold medal at Barcelona, but he walked away with the incredible memory of a father who came to him in his need and helped him finish the race. This father demonstrates the same kind of imminent, present, caring, helping love God has brought to us in Jesus Christ. He did not remain apart from us in Heaven, He came to us, He identified with us, He brought us love. Love divine, all excelling love, redemptive love, saving love. You can have that love today if you put faith in Jesus Christ and obey Him as Lord. And when you cross the finish, everyone in heaven will rise and cheer. You won't win the gold medal, however, but something infinitely more valuable and desirable; you will receive a crown of life. That is the promise of the one who brings us love without end, amen!

(Derek story from: Hot Illustrations for Youth Talks, Wayne Rice, Youth Specialties, El Cajon, Ca)

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