The Dream: You have no appointment. But you’re troubled. Without being announced, or fearing you’ll intrude, you dash past the secretary into your father’s office. She runs after you. “You can’t bother your father. He’s in the middle of a multimillion dollar crisis.” But your father stands. “Excuse me gentlemen, someone important needs me.” Taking your hand he leads you to a couch where you pour out your heart. He doesn’t glance at his watch. He listens. Before leaving you’re given a hug and reminded the door is always open. Seeds of trust, love, and acceptance are nurtured.
The Reality: You have a difficult situation and seek your father’s help. You run past the secretary to his office. But the door’s closed. “He’s busy,” she says. “Please, please tell him I must see him.” The secretary taps on the door. “I thought I told you not to disturbed me,” a gruff voice answers. “I know sir, but your daughter . . .” “This merger is paramount,” he blares. “Have her wait.” Hours pass, and you leave. Seeds of anger, hurt, and mistrust are planted.
The Reality scenario is painful for those who have lived it. God wasn’t kidding when He said, “Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged” (Colossians 3:21, NKJV). But a dad’s job is tough. And keeping an ‘open door’ isn’t easy. New fathers who are told, “Now be a good dad,” with little or no instructions, is like tossing a teenager keys to a semi-truck: Both are headed for disaster!
But dads, be encouraged. Our Mighty Lord didn’t leave you stranded. When He gives a command, we’re shown how to live it.
First, “God listened, to Israel’s cry,” (Numbers 21:3, NKJV). Problems in other countries didn’t make Him deaf to their anguish. Second, with hundreds of others vying for His attention, in Matthew 11: 28, Jesus says, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest.” He individually invites us to come and sit with Him on the sofa to rest. Third, in John 6: 37 we’re assured when going through Jesus’ door that; “ . . . the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out.” We’re never turned away. And fourth, James 1:19-20 summarizes the points, “ . . .be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath . . .” Jesus only became angry, with righteous anger, when the priest defiled His Father’s house.
Who wouldn’t want this kind of openness, and never have to wait for hours! God understands the ‘position of dad,’ or life, can overwhelm us. Consequently, He demonstrates, again, what an ‘open door’ looks like. We’re promised in Psalm 121:3-4, “ . . . He who keeps [your name] will not slumber. Behold, He who keeps [your name] will neither slumber nor sleep.” If God, Who runs the universe, is available anytime, may we too, go and do likewise!