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Growing up, it was easy for others to recognize who my father was. Sometimes he and I would walk into a public place, such as a mall, and people would mistake us for brothers. This is because my dad looks amazing for his age. Unlike me, who started balding in his twenties, my dad still has a decent hairline. The good looks were just one of the reasons people could tell he was my father. Another reason is that my dad is actually really funny. His sense of humor can captivate any room he enters, just like mine.
On top of these great qualities, my dad also won “Man of the Year” a few years ago in my hometown of Shelby, North Carolina. Needless to say, anyone with half a brain would aspire to be half the man that he is.
However, after coming to God and giving my life to Him completely, my fathers changed. My new father is known as the “Father of Faith” — his name is Abraham.
“Our father is Abraham!” they declared. “No,” Jesus replied, “for if you were really the children of Abraham, you would follow his example. - John 8:39 NLT
Abraham was a man who traveled from country to country, solely based on a word from God. He had so much faith in God that at a moment's notice he was willing to leave everything and everyone behind and travel to a country that he had never been to before. This incredible trust in God and His word is what has led him to being recognized as the “Father of the Faith.
Abraham’s life was a clear example of walking by faith and not by sight. Although the odds were against him, he had faith in God that he would have a son at a very, very old age. Without seeing any proof, Abraham believed that God would make his descendants as numerous as the sands on the seashore (Genesis 22:17).
When I came to God, I inherited this man as a father.
“And Abram believed the LORD, and the LORD counted him as righteous because of his faith.” - Genesis 15:6 NLT
Scripture says that the true sons of Abraham will live by faith just like their father.
“The real children of Abraham, then, are those who put their faith in God.” - Galatians 3:7
I have spent the majority of my life imitating my earthly father, but in order to get to heaven, I must imitate the father I inherited through Christ — Abraham.
“Abraham, our father of faith, believed God, and the substance of his faith released God’s righteousness to him. So the true children of Abraham have the same faith as their father! And the Scripture prophesied that on the basis of faith God would declare gentiles to be righteous. God announced the good news ahead of time to Abraham: ‘Through your example of faith, all the nations will be blessed!’ And so the blessing of Abraham’s faith is now our blessing too!” - Galatians 3:6-9 TPT
Look at your life and ask yourself: Who is my father?