Whether you have kids or ever were a kid, I’m sure you’ve heard one say to another, “Do you know who my dad (or mom) is?!” To which, whether you already know or not, they proceed to tell you who they think their parent is and why you should know. It’s often met with a response of, “Oh yeah? Well my dad…” It often ends with a tussle, both of them thinking they won, or one giving up. God’s children (Christians – Romans 8:16) shouldn’t get into fruitless arguments with the children of the devil (unbelievers – 1 John 3:10). However, it’s important for you to know who your Father is and why we should glory in Him.

Creator & Sustainer – “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” Genesis 1:1. Before there was mankind or a planet or even time, there was God. Jesus, God the Son, made all things, including all life and light (John 1:1-18). As the creator of everything, He is Lord (or authority) over everything that is created, and nothing that was created is made without him (Isaiah 44:24; John1:3). This means that when we see the expanse of the universe or the minutia of an atom or the conception of a child, it’s not by some cosmic force or accident. There’s a creator moving things and allowing things to bring out his glory that many times we can’t understand yet. (See The Tapestry of Your Life)

Head of the Trinity – God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit – each separate, but still one. It’s a really tough concept as they are three different parts that have their own parts to play, but are simultaneously One. To help my finite mind understand such a grand concept, I relate it to myself. I am a son, a father and a husband. They are all me, and I am all of them, but each part has a different role. the father in me disciplines my children, if I tried the same thing as a son to my parents, it would not work the same. If I treated my spouse like my children, it again would not work. Now amplify that by the power of God and you have a partial understanding of how they work independently and synchronously simultaneously.

Our Father – We have the unique privilege of calling God our Father through adoption (Romans 8:15, John 1:12-13, Philippians 2:14-15, 1 John 3:1). Non -Christians are not the children of God and even the angels can’t call him “Father.” As our father, he provides for our needs (Philippians 4:19), disciplines (Hebrews 12:7-11), protects (Psalm 91, 27, 71) and even gives gifts (James 1:17). We can go to him in times of joy or in times of sorrow as he has our best interest in mind (Jeremiah 17:7-8).

Unchanging/Everlasting – Before there were people, or a planet for them to live on, or a universe to put that planet in, there was God. In fact, before time even existed, God was there to create the beginning (Genesis 1:1). In Revelation, we see that God is was and always will be the Almighty One (Revelation 1:8, 22:13). Throughout all time, He is the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8, James 1:17). Because of his everlasting and unchanging nature, we can know that what He has said, always will be. He is the one who knows and directs all events and can be trusted to guide our path (Psalm 119:105).

Attributes – Holy, Love, Omniscient, Omnipresent, All Powerful, etc. – The attributes of God are so immeasurable and unending that words can’t express their depth (Romans 11:33) and I won’t begin to try to list them all. Search the Scriptures and you will see over and over that God is so beyond our comprehension (Isaiah 55:8-9). However, one of the most important is that God is love (1 John 4:7-8). After all, a timeless and all powerful God would be terrifying if that God is not LOVE. One of my favorite hymns says, “Could we with ink the ocean fill, And were the skies of parchment made. Were every stalk on earth a quill, And every man a scribe by trade. To write the love of God above Would drain the ocean dry. Nor could the scroll contain the whole Though stretched from sky to sky.”

We should not get into arguments over how much more amazing God is than the gods of this world as it will not get anywhere (1 Corinthians 2:14-16). Instead, we should show God’s love and the plan of salvation so that we may win the few. Knowing who your Father is so you can have an answer for people’s questions, but not so you can win an argument. Take on His attributes (especially love) so you can continue to be the light and salt this world needs.