Phillip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.” (John 14:80)

     At the very heart of human experience, we search for something or someone who will bring peace and certainty into our lives - someone who can bring about happy endings and right the injustices that choke out hope in our lives. We search for love and acceptance, freedom from pain and suffering, and deliverance from overwhelming despair in the midst of unexplainable tragedy and evil.

     This week I listened momentarily to the verdict being read in the murder trial of little nine-year old Jessica Lunsford. A man was found guilty of murder in the first degree. I won’t mention his name because he doesn’t deserve any notoriety. The overwhelming sadness I felt for little Jessica and her grief-stricken parents was intense. There was no explanation for why this innocent child had to go through what she did.

     I did what I sometimes do when I feel overwhelmed by life - I sought a quiet place and turned toward God to renew my mind with His thoughts.

     The words of Phillip came to me…”Lord, show us (me) the Father (God) and that will be enough for us (me).”

     Phillip was literally asking Jesus to reveal God to him because he knew that Jesus knew God better than anyone who had ever lived. I believe that is still true. I don’t think anyone has had a clearer view of God than Jesus. He spoke of Him as His Father. He spoke as one who knew what He was talking about. Jesus showed us that;

     The Father is light in the midst of darkness. The Father is love in the midst of hate. The Father is present when everyone else has left the premises. The Father is faithful when everyone else searches for a convenient way out. The Father is the source of creation, eternity, and life itself.

     In the midst of sadness I was reminded that the God who created Jessica and placed her in this world was with her every moment in her life and that He is with her now in heaven. What she now knows is the perfect love of God and freedom from evil, pain, confusion, and fear on this earth. I know this is true because that is who the Father is, as Jesus showed us when He walked on this earth.

     For this reason, my sadness is now for us who remain on this earth. Jessica has been set free to enjoy God first hand and to know His richest blessings. We are the ones who need desperately to change - to see God up close. We need to realize that the freewill that we have been given exists so that we might choose to love - not hate, give - not take, and help - not hurt.

     Oh, how I long for the day when everyone might say…”Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.”

In His footsteps,

Mike Rogers