In many ways this title describes the highest of all positions in human relationships. The father is the head of the family. He is the progenitor, the protector, the provider, and the guide. He is the spiritual leader of the home. His responsibilities are great and he takes them seriously. He is diligent in the fulfillment of his duties as a father.

Now, the description and definition that I have given above is not what is in the mind of millions of people. Unfortunately, multitudes have never known a father such as I have defined. Drop-out dads and absentee fathers have become common place in our society. With the lack of marital commitment many families are raised without a father's influence.

Also, drugs, drink, immoral sexual values, pornography, and etc., have reduced many biological fathers to being irresponsible and immature males that are present in the home and family, but do not live up to the definition of "father."

Unfortunately, people tend to define the role of a father by the experience that they had with their own father. If their father was good, then their concept of a father is good. If their father was bad, then their concept of a father is bad.

I mention all of this because, as Christians, we deal with this problem every time we refer to God as our Heavenly Father. People tend to define our Heavenly Father by their experience with their earthly father.

Consequently, we often must tell people how wonderful, how perfect, how loving, how caring, and how wise our Heavenly Father is. We need to tell them that our Heavenly Father is an ever present, never failing, and faithful Father.

Those that grow up without a loving, faithful father in their life, grow up with an empty place that needs filling. They grow up with the need of a father figure in their life.

You and I must introduce them to our Heavenly Father and let Him fill them and love them as only He can.

With Father's Day coming up it is a wonderful time to lead somebody to the Heavenly Father.