God has granted of late several soul-enlarging conversations with my dad. It’s relatively uncommon that sons can pore over Scripture either with their dads or 83-year-old men, much less a combination of the two. But in God’s inestimable grace and wise providence I’ve enjoyed this undeserved gift.
Several days ago we wandered into the deep end (which Paul would say is the kiddie pool of the Gospel) to discuss the doctrines of grace. God has given Dad a helpful combination of patience and eagerness. He wants to know what we can know, but in a way that promotes gentleness and respect. Never has Dad wanted to argue the point, but learn the truth.
As we navigated the sovereignty of God in salvation Dad was led to the question of all eternal questions. It took me by surprise and at that point I realized we were getting somewhere together. Or better yet, we were getting Someone together. The question Dad was compelled to ask was: “Why then am I saved and not someone else?” When he asked that my heart raced and soul swelled. It wasn’t because I felt like I’d taught my dad something, but because that was the question I needed to hear for my own sake.
I thought my first instinct would be to unpack the answer to that question with biblical-theological arguments and counter-arguments. But, I couldn’t. That question was doxological, not pedagogical. It didn’t need an answer from the head, but worship from the heart. So I exclaimed, “That’s it, Dad! Now we’re getting at grace! It’s the answer to that very question we will celebrate for all eternity! That’s the question that grace necessarily begs if we’re to understand God’s grace at all.”
And it is the answer to that question that makes the most of Jesus and our glorying in him. Give credit where credit is due.
But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, so that, just as it is written, “LET HIM WHO BOASTS, BOAST IN THE LORD” (1 Cor 1.30-31).
What amazing grace to save such a stiff-necked, prideful, sin-loving wretch like me!
Thank you brother!
Scott
Thanks for this BJ. It was good to see your Dad last Sunday. This all made me think of the hymn “How Sweet and Awful”, esp. these two verses:
While all our hearts and all our songs
Join to admire the feast,
Each of us cry, with thankful tongues,
“Lord, why was I a guest?”
“Why was I made to hear Thy voice,
And enter while there’s room,
When thousands make a wretched choice,
And rather starve than come?”
“Worship” — that’s it.
“In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.
BJ
As you know the ultimate answer to every question is for God’s glory. I am thankful you are able to have these intimate times with your dad. I so miss my father and long to have time back I can never recapture.
Meeting your dad Sunday was a pleasure. He is a gracious man and the apple did not fall far from the tree.
God bless you my brother
Tim
Blessings, Tim. It was great to officially welcome you and Pam into the UBC fellowship yesterday. Be assured the apple does have worms!