A Father's Love...

Who is there like you oh Lord God of the heavens and the earth? Who else can do the things you do? Who can decree a thing and it comes to pass? Really who can compare with our God? Who else can remain faithful and true even when a partner is unfaithful? His promises are yea and amen from eternity to eternity. Not a single word from His mouth falls to the ground without being fulfilled. He’s blessings towards His beloved children are without repentance. He changes times, seasons and destinies and yet is called the unchanging God. He is ever so gentle, loving, forgiving, understanding, patient, committed and faithful. He is the Almighty, the maker of the heavens and the earth; the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End; the First and the Last; the ruler of all things. And in all this, the one thing that amazes me the most is the fact that He has given us the authority to call Him ABBA, FATHER!!

I remember receiving the news 20 years ago today of the ghastly accident that cut short the beautiful and precious life of my biological father. I remember it like it was just yesterday; I felt like my world had crumbled like a pack of cards. I couldn’t begin to imagine what my life would be like without my father. He was our rock, our pillar, our provider, our source of strength, our spring, our hero! He was everything (and I’m not exaggerating this one bit). For a long time it felt like an unending bad dream. As much as I wondered what the future would hold for me and my family, I couldn’t imagine anything good coming out of such a horrible experience.

How wrong I was thinking with such hopelessness and helplessness. For we took each day as it came, we ran for cover to the one who never fails; the one who is the father of the fatherless and the husband of the widow; we found solace in a God who adopted us as sons and daughters and gave us a new name. He gave us an inheritance that far exceeds that which any earthly father could ever give. He made us Kings and Priests in His Kingdom and crowned us with His loving kindness and tender mercies. He saw us through the storms, the rains, the trials, the tribulations, the hurts and the pains. And now, 20 years down the line, no longer are we called a desolate land. No longer are we looked up with pity and shame; we have become a crown of splendour in the our father’s hands, a royal diadem. He made us His delight and has engraved us in the palm of His hands. In deed He has kept His promises to us; one by one He has fulfilled them all. They may not have happened in the way or at the time we wanted them but He definitely has come through every single time we called out His name.

Oh what an awesome Father we have grown to know and to serve. We may have lost a mortal father on the 11th of March 1990, but we have gained an immortal and invisible father, the all wise, all knowing, all seeing, almighty God! Today we do not mourn like those who have no hope? NO! We celebrate the faithfulness and love of God our father, our rock, our pillar, our provider, our source of strength, our spring, our hero and this time, He will be with us forever and ever and unto eternity; for in Him there is no comparison, no contest.

May the beautiful soul of Late Brig. Gen. Daniel Patrick Archibong continue to rest in perfect peace in Jesus name.

XOXO...