My Father's Hands

When I was young, my father had a grip like a vice. He wasn’t a big man, but he had big hands, a strong grip, and a firm handshake. As a boy, I remember watching in amazement how a few men tried to throw him into the swimming pool one warm summer day. His grip on the post of the deck was like a steel clamp! They could not pry him off. I immediately had the following thoughts, “Wow, my father is like superman!” “My father is the strongest man I know.” “My father has strong hands.”  Another thing my father could do with his hands is fix things. He could fix anything. His main tool? Duct tape! And no matter what I brought him, he’d try to repair it. Let’s just say he was verrrry creative.  He wasn’t going to win carpenter of the year, but he would do his best to fix the things that were broken because he knew it meant a lot to me. And as long as it worked, I was fine with it! After all, it was fixed. Fixing things was only one way he showed his love towards me. He would hug me, disciple me, encourage me, explain things to me, teach me, and throw the baseball with me. I also watched him love my mother and family with his hands. But there was one thing of mine that my father could not fix—even with duct tape—my broken heart.  One day, after I had become a Christian, I heard a song that made me think back on my life. Here’s a few lines from the song.  “Now here I am and I’m feeling scared  ‘Cause for the very first time, I am aware  Of ruined hopes and these shattered dreams, And my father’s hands could not fix everything. My broken heart is not a broken toy And though I’m a man, I am still much a boy. And my daddy’s done all he can do, So Lord Jesus, I’m asking you, Could your father be my father too? Now my Father’s hands can fix everything in my world!” - My Father’s Hands, by Glad Isn’t that Great!? It’s the truth. God’s Hands are mentioned in the Bible quite a bit.  God made things with His hands “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork.” Psalm 19:1 “His hands formed the dry land.” Psalm 95:5 God made us with His hands “Lord, You are our Father; we are the clay, and You our potter; and all we are the work of Your hand.” Isaiah 64:8  God loves us so much He has a reminder of us on His hands “I will not forget you. See, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands.” Isaiah 49:15-16 God is trying to get our attention with His hands “I have stretched out My hands all day long to a rebellious people, who walk in a way that is not good, according to their own thoughts.” Isaiah 65:2 God does the impossible and reaches down to us from Heaven “The Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; nor His ear heavy, that it cannot hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear. For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue has muttered perversity.” Isaiah 59:1-3  My friend, God’s hands are outstretched to you. Our sins separate us from Him. He sent Jesus to unite us with Him. Notice what Isaiah says: “your sins have hidden His face from you.” When we sin, His face goes into hiding. And look what it says about our hands: “your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity.” Breaking God’s commands will do that. Jesus received nails in His hands for you and I. Will you reach out today for the hand of Jesus? After Jesus died He went to Heaven and is seated at the right Hand of God!  “It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.” Romans 8:34 Receive Him and receive the right hand of fellowship (see Galatians 2:9). Reach out your hand to Him for the help only He can provide and receive Him into your heart for salvation today. In God’s hands we are secure “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand. I and My Father are one.” John 10:28-30 The truth is, my friend, there comes a day when our earthly father doesn’t fix our things anymore. We become adults and stop bringing our broken things to him. Then there will come a day, as it does for us all, when he won’t even be around to ask him. Who will we go to? Who will we ask for help? We need to go to our Heavenly Father and His hands! He will give us the advice and wisdom to fix what needs fixing. Even when we can’t go to Dad (or Mom) because they’re gone from this place, we still have a Father! He is the greatest Father.  He knows us better than our earthly father because he created us AND He has always been with us. He even knows our thoughts! My father never knew every thought I had. God is intimately acquainted with us (see Psalm 139:3).  And this is how you reach out and grab his outstretched hand. Call out to Him in faith, and trust what He has done for you. You might pray a prayer like this: Heavenly Father. I admit that I am a sinner and my sin has separated me from You, a holy God. I believe that Your Son Jesus suffered, bled, and died for my sin. I believe that He rose again and is alive in Heaven preparing a place for me. I trust Him as my savior today. Help me to turn from my sin and live for You. In Jesus’ name, amen. If you have turned to God for salvation, and put your trust in Jesus Christ, you are now a child of God and He is your Father. Now you have the wonderful privilege of living as His child. That means turning from your sinful lifestyle to live in a way more pleasing to God. You learn what’s pleasing in the Bible. Pray for guidance now. As your Father, God wants to take your hand and fix things for you. I thank God for the father He gave me and I am proud to be called his son. I am also proud to be called a son of my Heavenly Father. And it’s all because of Jesus!!!