disappointment or appointment?

When told how the sins of the fathers visit their sons, our minds start to think of various scenarios.  Being a son, I tend to think of myself in past positions, but with my father’s passing, now I can only relate to the son part of it.  As fathers we only want the best for our kids, but too many instances occur where we try to live out our dreams through them, in other words we only want them to have it better than we did.  To have a better job, a better home, and to make more money.  If only they would listen to us, to have gotten the education, stayed away from fast girls and motorcycles, and made better choices. 
All the same things that their fathers wished for them.  But sometimes in their best wishes, they can stir up more trouble than they try to solve, and the sons pay the price.  It doesn’t have to be a big thing, at least to those on the outside, but when it happens to us, it can be devastating....fortunately kids heal faster, and forget...but do we ever get over it.

At one time I was a pretty good ballplayer, good enough to be one of the best players on my Midget League baseball team.  My first year I made the All Stars, and was so proud of myself.  I was chosen over others on my team to represent them because I was good.  I knew most of the other kids, and we were all excited about playing with and against each other.  Even at that young age we had no patience for those who couldn’t play the game.  But the coach that year was new, and at the first practice, it was all about his son, who was good, but no All Star.  He would pitch, bat first, and almost all the dialogue was between the two.  We felt left out, disappointed, and at the game, his son played all 6 innings, while most of sat and watched.  He paid no attention to us, and many of voiced it to our fathers, who went to the league and complained.  The league in response made a new rule, no fathers who were coaches could choose their sons for the All Stars.  Good we thought, looking back, but we forgot to look ahead.

The next season what had been disappointment turned to frustration.  Some of us had fathers who coached or umpired, and it mattered not how good we were, but who they were.  And I wasn’t allowed to participate as an All Star.  We could be alternates, which I was, and the kid picked ahead of me was good, but not an All Star.  Except to his dad, who had made a fuss that his son had been overlooked the last year.  So with some of us true All Stars not allowed to play, our team got slaughtered.  Which wasn’t bad enough to me, as it ended up our team sent no one, as the kid designated as our All Star didn’t show up.  His father still mad at the league kept him out, in a great “I’ll show you I’ll be stupid mode” he never told our coach, and as the alternate I never got the chance to play.  And to this day I feel robbed, I was good enough, but due to the egos of certain fathers was denied.  My failure of appointment had turned to disappointment...To us kids it was always a game, we just wanted to play ball, but to the adults it was about power.  Position.  Maybe forgetting they too were kids once.  And at age 11 I learned an important lesson.  And my last chance to ever be an All Star again.

I can imagine Father Abraham as a coach.  He would be fair, play to win, and play everyone.  He would face the obstacles in faith, facing possible disappointment, but hoping for God’s appointment.  Many stories have been told about him and Isaac, and in the simple words not spoken by God, we hear more than words can say.  When Abraham told them to watch the donkeys, that he and Isaac will be back after worshipping, he knew what lied ahead.  His son, the promising All Star of all peoples, was to be his sacrifice.  But how would he, how could he do that, if he was dead?  What was God thinking that day?  And with no examples or promises of resurrection yet, what could have been going through his mind?  With every step he could have turned back, wasn’t his motive enough for God?  But he had faith in God, his creator, who could recreate if needed, he knew God’s character of love, and trusted him.  God chose Abraham and Isaac to be All Stars that day, and as we know God intervened and saved Isaac.  Fulfilling the promise he had made to Abraham.  The Lord took Abraham’s disappointment, he loved Isaac, but loved God more, and it was replaced with appointment.  A special time, a special place, that Abraham named “God will provide.”  Even today the Jews have a saying that when going to the mountain top, God will provide. 

When we come to the place of disappointment, when climbing the mount of adversity, we know that God is with us.  For if he didn’t spare his own son, such love, then we can trust him to do what is right for us.  But we still need to climb that mountain, it stays while we move.  But we will reach the place of appointment that God has for us, on his time, his terms.  He will turn our disappointment to a glorious appointment.  And even while sinners, this love is available, imagine how much more when we know Jesus face to face, and know of his love personally.  Abraham was willing to risk everything, his precious son if God asked.  He found the character of God to be one of endless love, and was willing to give whatever God asked of him.

And so we see the love of the Father passed on to his son Abraham, who passed it onto his son, and God’s promises were fulfilled.  God has a purpose for us each day, and will carry us through.  We may miss a game or two, maybe miss the big game, but to God we will always be an All Star.  He sent his son so we could be part of the team, and he sets the example of how he wants us to love our sons, and to see they have a better life than we did.  But only in Jesus Christ will we ever find that success, the thing that disappoints being removed in a divine appointment.  The only answer not spoken to Abraham was if God expects him to carry on the promise through Isaac, he will have to raise Isaac from the dead.  And with that hope he obeyed.  Later we see Jesus going to the cross to die for us, telling his father “not my will, but yours be done.”  In both cases the only solution was resurrection.

The same resurrection we will have someday.  Passed over on earth, we will be All Stars in heaven.  We made the greatest team ever, God’s team, and all who have joined will be resurrected in Christ.  Man plans, God laughs, but real life can hurt.  Find your appointment with God today, let him handle the disappointment you are in, and watch resurrection power first hand.  And find that when you get to the mount, God has already provided in his son, Jesus Christ.  All worked out from a loving father in heaven, who only wants the best for his kids.  And you thought it was only a game.

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com