Being a Father under the Tree of Life

Praise God, our church has entered into a new stage, full of the atmosphere and fragrance of the Tree of Life. God’s work is wonderful. He has used the life stories of C-Mo and I to illustrate the role of a prince and a father in the messages “A Song of Life” and “Covenant of Heavens and Earth” just before the pandemic’s return. His work has instantly shortened the distance between us and the brothers and sisters, and even the younger generation. It’s really the atmosphere of a big family!

Without pre-arranging it, C-Mo and I went onstage hand-in-hand, two Sundays in a row, for the first time! It was a great challenge. Usually, we only preach together one Sunday in a year, and that’s on a special event like a church anniversary! We just shared on Psalm 113 (“A Song of Life”) last week and immediately after that we read Malachi in the following week’s Morning Devotion. We knew that this was the will and guidance of God. So, that following Sunday, we went on to share on Malachi 4 (“Covenant of Heavens and Earth”). Immediately after that, the pandemic forced the closure of online services again. It seems that God is affirming us – we are in His timing!

Then, the following Tuesday, we led a second “Three Generations’ Summit”, again leading our curator staff to have open face-to-face communication with the youngsters. There were love and trust between us, and the response of the younger generation was great. It’s just like as written in the book of Malachi: “And he will turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers.”

People ask me, what’s the difference between a “coach” and a “father” in terms of their roles and essences? For me, being a father is not easy. My father was not by my side during my growing-up years. My knowledge of “father” was based on one of my neighbors, who had left in me the image of an angry man. I decided in my heart that I would never become that kind of father. I grew up in many hardships and struggles, but God has helped and healed me through prayers in the Holy Spirit. Though my father had abandoned me and had not given me any positive lessons, I still thank God that he has not hurt me verbally. I was able to forgive and accept my father.

In the past, I was more like a coach and mentor. I was glad to share what I had, but for the good of my students, not my own benefit and satisfaction. When I was pastoring in Canada, besides sharing messages and organizing fellowships, I also taught brothers and sisters to play badminton and table tennis, and led them to go swimming, hiking and camping. Though I had the heart of a father, I was more like a mentor. Now, I have gradually grown from mentor to father. All these are led by God.

Thank God that we are entering the new stage of Tree of Life: The hearts of the fathers shall return to their children. Being a father is unlike a mentor, who has lots of requirements. Instead, the father loves and accepts his children. We don’t reject our children even when they fail to do or cannot do well what we expect. Apart from the leading of the Holy Spirit, I have the help of C-Mo. She often reminds me not to look at people with an eye of disappointment. With her help, I’m able to relate to my children with a fatherly heart, making our relationships closer and freer. Dear brothers and sisters, let’s respond to God’s will in the End Times. He wants to see everyone following Him to become fathers to this generation, under the Tree of Life!•[2020.07.19]