This is My Father's World
In the late 1800s, Maltbie Davenport Babcock wrote the words, "This is my Father's world. Oh, let me never forget!"
When you look around at what is happening these days, how confusing and complex everything seems to be, it is easy to forget that as children of God, this is our Father's world.
We walk and drive and play and work in our Father's world.
All the upside down morals being heralded as good is happening in our Father's world.
He sees it all and knew it was going to happen before He created His world.
I hope this is a comfort to you. It certainly is to me. It is a great comfort to me to know that I am His child and am in the place He created for me to live and work and drive and play.
When truth is getting tossed about and reality is becoming twisted to mean whatever we humans determine it to be, we often forget that we are in our Father's world.
I think Sinclair Ferguson said it right when he called this world a cathedral of worship to God. This world is God's house of worship.
The animals worship Him. The trees declare how glorious He is. When you are stunned by an amazing sunset, think of how even more amazing is our Father who created it.
Look, I also get caught up in the turmoil of the day - it can be easy when our country's administration, Big Tech's and the mainstream media's goal is to get everyone in a panic, it is easy to be distracted. That's when we need to be reminded even more that this is our Father's world.
Why is this such a great comfort to His children?
The same way that it is a great comfort to my children when they are in their room and yet frightened of the dark. I will turn on a nightlight so they can see in the room, and I will remind them that I am still in the house and just down the hallway.
It brings them great comfort to know that this is my house and I won't let anyone or anyting come into my house to harm them.
How much more can we be comforted by knowing that it is our Father who created the stars and planets in the universe and created the earth and us? To know that we are walking around in our Father's house and He will not let anything or anyone bring us harm?
And yet for many this won't bring them comfort.
They will look at the world and the terrible things that are happening in it and they will believe many things and many people will bring them harm.
They will look at the many people who have had great harm happening to them and say, "I don't believe it. I am not protected and I am not safe."
And on top of all that, this world is moving further and further away from God. Some might consider that this world is going to "hell in a handbasket."
And God says to us something like, "I know it seems crazy or scary or hopeless. I know there are evil things that are happening all the time. But I am here and you are My child and this is My house, My world, and I am always with you while you are in My house."
David, the great King of Israel, repeated this when he said to God:
You hem me in, behind and before,
and lay your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
it is high; I cannot attain it.
Where shall I go from your Spirit?
Or where shall I flee from your presence?
If I ascend to heaven, you are there!
If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!
If I take the wings of the morning
and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
even there your hand shall lead me,
and your right hand shall hold me.
If I say, "Surely the darkness shall cover me,
and the light about me be night,"
even the darkness is not dark to you;
the night is bright as the day,
for darkness is as light with you. (Psalm 139:5-12, ESV)
And Paul the Apostle says:
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28, ESV)
And Paul also says:
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?
Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies.
Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died - more than that, who was raised - who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? (Romans 8:31-35, ESV)
And Jesus said:
"I am with you always, to the end of the age." (Matthew 28:20, ESV)
As the great hymn says:
"This is my Father’s world.
Oh, let me never forget
that though the wrong seems oft so strong,
God is the ruler yet."
Friends, let us take great comfort that as we walk and work and play in this world and as the darkness seems to be overtaking the light, let us take great comfort that the "night is as bright as the day" to our Father and He is watching over us as we are in His house.
We are starting a new work for the Lord in the Livingston, Tennessee, area. And we are looking for other families and friends in the Lord to come alongside us. Maybe you would be interested?
Feel free to call me, Richard Boureston, at 931-303-4247 to learn more.