Whose child are you?

CEBU, Philippines - When biological fathers fail, don’t sulk. Don’t breed anger or hatred. Still choose Love. When earthly fathers mess up, there’s Daddy God anyway.

“I know it’s a tough pill to swallow,” says Pastor Ru dela Torre. “But that is the Law. To honor your parents is the only commandment that comes with a reward – long life. It may not mean literal long life. But it does promise a fruitful life,” he added in an interview at the Rajah Park Hotel last June 4 prior to an inspirational talk with Christian groups at the CAP Center and a meet-and-greet at the Ayala Center Mall for the signing of his OMF Lit-published books “Road Trip” and its sequel “Back on Track”.

Pastor Ru of His Life City Church in San Fernando, Pampanga, opens to third chapter of “Road Trip” and points to an item under the heading: “Whose child are you?”

“In our road trip, we also need to get a broader understanding of our identity and of who we really are in the eyes of God,” his book read. And then quoted John 1:12 – “Yet to all who received Him [Jesus], to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God.”

“This means that to us who have Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we can look up to God as our Father,” Pastor Ru said.

Then, he shared how he first encountered this truth. “How my heart exploded with joy when I heard it. Hallelujahs sizzled from within me as I got hold of this new snapshot about my God.”

He disclosed that before this break-out encounter, the image he had of God was this: A very strict and formal God who works like a police officer patrolling 24/7. “He’s waiting to pounce on me when I make mistakes and itching to impose penalties and detentions.”

“I was totally wrong! God is our Father whose favor lasts for a lifetime yet whose anger lasts only for a moment (please check Psalm 30:5). We can look to Him as someone who is loving and forgiving. He is a rescuing and caring Dad,” Pastor Ru further said.

“If biological fathers fail, rest assured their children will have someone to run to. God is a Father who will never abandon His children.”

A Dad who wants to express His Love

As Pastor Ru’s road trip with God continued, he further realized that our loving God is a Dad who longs to show goodness to us everyday in every way. “Not only in times of crisis but more in all areas of our lives,” this he underscored.

“As the mileage accumulated in my personal trip, I realized that this Dad wants to express His love in so many ways. I’ve come to an understanding that His goodness is all around. It is packaged in this box called favor. I just wasn’t aware of it before,” the testimony went.

“Now a bit wiser and more sensitive to the extent of God’s love, I realized that it has been the goodness of God that has been making it all possible, after all. It includes the open doors, the exciting opportunities, the divine connections, and the unprecedented preferential treatment. His loving kindness has allowed me to fully maximize the spectacular plan that He has mapped out. When I took on a new identity as God’s child, I also got a far-reaching comprehension of the depth and the width of the favor from the Father.”

In capping the chapter, Pastor Ru has this “One on One with God” segment which allows the reader, most especially the youth of this troubled generation, to close the reading with a prayer.

What about those youth who have for a tormentor their own father? Pastor Ru underlined that youth of a “fatherless generation” must understand that the life they are living today are not actually theirs.

“I always reiterate in my inspirational talks that we have to choose Love, no matter how extreme the cases may be. When we begin to understand God’s favor in our lives, we will be reminded of our identity in Him; that we have a Dad to help us bring this confidence along as we face the challenges of life.”

“He helps us understand that we need not fear because He is backing us up and surrounding us with favor as with a shield (Psalm 5:12 – For surely, O Lord, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield).”

“With this in mind, we know we will be able to fulfill His dream for our life knowing that we are backed up by Him, our big Daddy God. We will never be afraid.”