"Then God said to him, 'Abraham!'

'Here I am,' he replied."

Genesis 22:1

THE APPLE DOES NOT FALL FAR FROM THE TREE

Someone whose opinion I greatly value once told me that I have a wonderful gift of storytelling preaching.

I smiled when they said it because I immediately thought of my father.

They say the apple does not fall far from the tree.

In my father's home village, older men would ask a young boy:

"Ungunyana kabani?" — "Whose son are you?"

Depending on your father's reputation, that is how you would be received.

Even today, when I mention my father's name, doors open because his reputation goes before me.

Long after fathers have gone, they continue to speak.

Not through words.

But through the lives they leave behind.

Today may become another emotional occasion much like Mother's Day when we reflected on The Fervent Prayers of Our Mothers.

And perhaps God has a beautiful sense of humour.

Because here I am, preparing to preach on Father's Day.

Humorous because I do not have biological children.

Yet by God's grace, I became a father at the tender age of twenty-two.

Not in the usual sense.

But through young people whom God placed in my path.

Basketball players.

Footballers.

Children from the community.

Young adults searching for direction.

A journey of encouragement, support and fatherly love that has now spanned more than thirty years.

As I prepared this message, I realised that my first thoughts were wrong.

I began with a lament.

"Where have all the faithful fathers gone?"

But God gently changed my heart.

Not:

"Where have all the faithful fathers gone?"

But:

ARISE, FAITHFUL FATHERS!

RELOCATED AND REPOSITIONED

Over these past weeks, the Methodist Church of Southern Africa has journeyed with Abraham.

First, God called him to leave his country.

Then God gave him a promise.

And finally, God tested him.

Our Conference theme this year has been:

"Relocated and Repositioned for Mission and Ministry: The Other Side Awaits."

Nobody illustrates this better than Abraham.

He was relocated from his homeland.

Relocated from familiar surroundings.

Relocated from the security of the past.

And eventually repositioned from being childless to becoming the father of nations.

Perhaps some men listening today feel forgotten.

Perhaps unanswered prayers and private disappointments have left them wondering if God can still use them.

Abraham's story reminds us that God's plans are bigger than our disappointments.

God is still repositioning men.

And the other side still awaits.

FATHERHOOD IS BIGGER THAN BIOLOGY

Not every father has biological children.

Joseph was not the biological father of Jesus.

Paul never married nor had children, yet he called Timothy:

"My son."

Jesus Himself never married and never fathered children.

Yet His faithfulness and obedience changed the world.

Perhaps today we learn that fatherhood is less about biology and more about responsibility.

Who have you loved?

Who have you protected?

Who have you encouraged?

Who have you pointed towards Christ?

Perhaps that is the greater question.

The Lord has a wonderful way of confirming His word.

After the service, a young man from the congregation stood up and shared something that brought tears to many eyes.

He never knew his biological father, who was killed when he was only two years old.

Yet in the two short years since returning to church, he testified that the person who had most consistently encouraged him, sacrificed time and resources for him, shared wisdom and pointed him to Christ had been "Uncle Tim."

Then, almost prophetically, he said he could not imagine the impact that thirty years of such faithfulness had had on hundreds, perhaps thousands of lives.

After taking my own father out for breakfast, I switched on my phone to receive another deeply moving voice note.

A man now in his forties, with children of his own, recalled incidents from three decades ago.

He spoke of the gentle rebukes, encouragement and inspiration that my father and I had shared with him.

He said he would not be where he is today were it not for the grace of God and two men, father and son, who stood in the gap when many young men had no fathers present in their lives.

And I found myself smiling.

Perhaps the old saying is true after all.

The apple really doesn't fall far from the tree.

SIX MARKS OF A FAITHFUL FATHER

1. Submission

When God called Abraham, he immediately answered:

"Here I am."

Faithful fathers submit first to God's authority before asserting their own.

Before leading a family, the faithful father first kneels before the Lord.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight."

Proverbs 3:5-6

2. Sensitivity

The first mention of love in Scripture comes when God says:

"Take your son, your only son, whom you love."

Faithful fathers are sensitive to God's Spirit.

They listen to His voice.

Tender hearts are not signs of weakness.

They are signs of love.

Love and sacrifice always walk together.

"Show me Your ways, Lord, teach me Your paths. Guide me in Your truth and teach me."

Psalm 25:4-5

3. Separation

Abraham said:

"Stay here while the boy and I go over there to worship."

Some journeys require separation.

Faithful fathers know when to leave behind destructive influences, addictions, worldly values and unhealthy friendships.

From my earliest childhood, I often observed children going to church with their mothers while their fathers were absent.

This is an important call.

Arise, faithful fathers!

Go with your children to the house of the Lord.

As Joshua declared:

"As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord."

Joshua 24:15

4. Sacrifice

Abraham placed the wood upon Isaac.

Centuries later another beloved Son would carry wood to Calvary.

Faithful fathers sacrifice comfort, sleep, ambitions and pride so that others may flourish.

"Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends."

John 15:13

5. Surrender

Isaac asked:

"Where is the lamb?"

Abraham answered:

"The Lord Himself will provide."

Faithful fathers do not place ultimate trust in money, wisdom or their own plans.

Even when children ask difficult questions concerning food, studies and the future, faithful fathers answer:

"The Lord Himself will provide."

6. Salvation

God provided a ram in Isaac's place.

Ultimately every faithful father points beyond himself to Christ, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.

The greatest inheritance a father leaves behind is not money.

Not possessions.

But faith.

"For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son…"

John 3:16

A CALL TO THE REMNANT

As we listen to reflective songs and remember faithful fathers whom we have known, perhaps our thoughts turn to those men who are now old and frail.

Men who quietly modelled Christ.

Some have gone to be with the Lord.

Others are still among us.

Today we honour them.

But we also hear a call.

God is not looking for perfect men.

He is looking for faithful men.

Men who, despite unanswered questions.

Despite private disappointments.

Despite unfulfilled dreams.

Will simply answer:

"Here I am."

CLOSING REFLECTION

The world says masculinity is power.

Scripture says masculinity is surrender.

The world says success is accumulation.

Scripture says success is faithfulness.

The world asks:

"Who is your father?"

But heaven asks:

"Whose father will you become?"

And perhaps that is the challenge this Father's Day.

Not:

"Where have all the faithful fathers gone?"

But:

ARISE, FAITHFUL FATHERS!

God is still rebuilding what many believe has been lost.

He is still searching for men.

Not perfect men.

Faithful men.

Men who, despite unanswered questions.

Despite private disappointments.

Despite unfulfilled dreams.

Will simply answer:

"Here I am."

And perhaps one day, because of their faithfulness, sons and daughters will rise up and testify:

"Had it not been for the grace of God and those men who stood in the gap, I would not be where I am today."

And perhaps then it will be said:

"The apple did not fall far from the tree."

"The God of heaven will give us success. We His servants will start rebuilding."

Nehemiah 2:20