Some 700 years before Jesus was born, a prophet said of Him, “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace,” (Isaiah 9:6).

The Trinity… right there in the Old Testament…

Everlasting Father… I read the words again. Is there anything sweeter? permanent dad, to hold us and love us, to delight in us and rejoice over us… forever?

I marvel. It’s too wonderful.

In a world full of failing – of fathers gone wrong or just plain gone, of children gone wrong or just plain gone – there is One who knows His role and shines in it always…

God – the Everlasting Father. There never was a time, nor will there ever be a time, when God was not our Father… Before the creation of the world, He was our Father. The day each of us were born, He was our Father. He is our Father today, and He will be our Father forevermore… Everlasting.

Matthew 5:48 describes God as our perfect Father.

Mine and yours.

He claims us as His, and He fathers us – guiding, protecting, loving, disciplining, correcting, providing, encouraging, listening, affirming, supporting, nurturing – perfectly.

It’s too wonderful.

My flesh objects, “But!”

“But, Lord, how could You? How could You choose to love me when You know the evil in my heart? How are You not disappointed in me when I fail? How can You think so highly of me when You know the lowly things I think and say and do…?” I search His eyes for answers, reassurance.

And He says, “I just love you…. nothing else… just love. I am the Everlasting Father, and I have loved you with an everlasting love… nothing else…. just love,” (Jeremiah 31:3).

My heart quickens at the thought that it could be true. It could be true that I am loved!

“There is no ‘could’ about it,” God says, “It is true.”

Love with no strings attached? True affection that withstands all the ugly that seeps out of my heart and all the broken that still hides inside? Love that doesn’t wane when I make mistakes? Or, even worse, when I choose to do wrong?

I’ve seen glimpses of this kind of love in people… and now I understand…

He’s been showing me human examples – free samples – of His Everlasting Fatherly love all along, using people to reflect His love to me in ways I can see so my faith in the Love I can’t see will grow…

God. Everlasting Father with everlasting love. For you. For me.