What others are saying
“We’ve had a blast here this week. We are a family of seven and I rarely get a week with my son.”
Keith Lanier Sr.
USA
Climbing Higher (Fall 2009)
One of life’s most valuable and rewarding relationships is the bond between a father and his son. Together, a godly father and son can go higher and higher in their walk with one another and with Jesus Christ. Big Sky Christian Adventures exists to foster this key relationship.
The Apostle Paul knew the importance of training young men to carry the torch of truth after his departure to his home in heaven. He eagerly invested in these key younger men so that the good news would continue to go forth and healthy local churches would continue to be planted.
One of Paul’s key disciples was a young pastor named Timothy. Paul wrote him two letters to help establish and encourage him in his faith and in his life’s work. Timothy’s mother Lois and his grandmother Eunice had a part in bringing him to genuine faith in Christ. But it was Paul who served the Lord as Timothy’s spiritual father and cherished mentor.
The depth of Paul’s love for young Timothy is plainly seen in his fatherly letters to him. Paul desires that Timothy’s spiritual progress would be clearly seen to all. In I Timothy 2:1, 2 Paul calls his son up higher- challenging him to reached previously unattained heights of spiritual fruitfulness.
“You, therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, these entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.”
In these two verses we learn that sons go higher in their Christian life when they understand four things.
A wise son understands his provision: Strong Grace
God’s grace is the basis for our relationship with him. He demonstrated his kindness and love for us at the cross, when Jesus bore all our sins and took our place. He paid the price for us, and it was all of grace. We received the forgiveness we could neither earn nor deserve. And it is “by grace that we are saved.”
But grace not only saves us, it grows us. God’s growing grace is the desire and the ability to accomplish the work that God has for us to do. Young Pastor Timothy’s primary work was communicating the good news (evangelism) and building up the believers (discipleship.) But he would need supernatural strength to accomplish those tasks. This is where God’s grace comes in.
In order to faithfully and fruitfully lead people to maturity in Christ Timothy would need to draw upon the strength that God’s grace provides provides. One of the foundational parts of that process is calling out to God for help, realizing the difficulty and the stakes of the battle.
When we cry out to God, recognizing our inability to do anything of eternal substance without him, He will hear our cry and generously give us the strength we need to reach and teach those who are under our care.
A wise son understands his priorities: Unchanging Truth
The Apostle Paul shared the good news with Timothy and thus called him his “son.” A father’s greatest joy comes when he proclaims the message in word and deed and sees his son respond to the gospel.
The message of salvation by faith alone in Christ alone found fertile soil in the heart of young Timothy. The good news of Christ is a message that is central to the spiritual birth of all people.
The changing winds of opinion vary from day to day. What is widely accepted one day is out of fashion the next. Happily, the Word of God never changes. The way of salvation that Christ established continues as the ages role. Each new generation can receive the unchanging truth and be born again into God’s family.
While a father can share the truth, it is vitally important for sons to hear and receive the good news about Christ’s offer of forgiveness and new life. As a son builds his life on the solid rock of Christ Jesus, the winds and rain will be repelled and the house will stand.
A wise son understands his partners: An Unbroken Chain
We often underestimate our influence on others. Like a relay team, the baton of truth is passed from one person to another. When a wise father shares Christ with his attentive son, he prepares his son to share the truth with others also. The legacy of our life is the team of people we leave behind to carry the torch.
Building into the life of another prevents isolation and builds a deep and strong relationship. When we obey Christ’s command to “make disciples” we enjoy a sense of satisfaction that is unrivalled. The Master Disciple maker’s beautiful plan to train and send others into the harvest field remains the key to a life of unrivalled purpose and meaning.
A young man who has been taught the truth is perfectly prepared to teach others. Throughout his life he will be able to follow his father’s example of one who cares enough to build into the lives of those who are seeking the truth.
A father and son team that is focused on climbing higher will be able to ascend to new heights, if they work together. As we value and nourish life’s key relationships, the Lord will bless our efforts and crown them with success.