Daddy’s Office Door Is Always Open to His Children
Thoughts on Jesus’ Final Words on the Cross with Elizabeth Rice Handford
Margi knew her daddy was a very busy man because lots of people needed him. They called him “Pastor Handford.” Mother called him
“Walt.” But to Margi and her siblings, he was “Daddy,” and that meant that he always, always was there when she needed him.
A broken dolly? A broken bracelet? A broken heart? Daddy could fix anything! Margi knew Daddy had told his secretary if it were at all possible, to always let the children in to see him. But Margi also cared about the people Daddy pastored, so if someone was in his office with him, she’d wait patiently until they were gone.
Once it was money she needed, so she asked her Daddy, “Do you have a job I could do for you so I could earn some money?”
“Why, yes, Margi. I need you to dust these book shelves for me. Can you wipe the dust off of each book carefully? I’ll pay you $2.00. Is that about right?”
So Margi earned $2.00 by dusting books that the janitor had already vacuumed while Daddy went about his work, and Margi and Daddy were both content.
But, as you very well know, Margi’s Daddy wasn’t always in his office when she needed him. And he certainly couldn’t always, always fix everything.
That is what makes Jesus’ final cry on the cross so very wonderful. He cried, “Father, into Your hands I commend my Spirit.” With those words, Jesus walked back into the throne room of Heaven that He’d left 33 years before. And He took us with Him. He made it possible for anyone-no matter how wicked, how poor, what sex or what race-anyone who trusts Him for forgiveness for their sins, can walk unafraid into the holy presence of the Almighty God. God made that promise to us because Jesus died to make it happen. Here’s the way Hebrews 6:17-20 says it.
God also bound Himself with an oath, so that those who received the promise
could be perfectly sure that He would never change His mind.
So God has given us both His promise and His oath.
These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie.
Therefore, we who have fled to Him for refuge can take new courage,
for we can hold on to His promise with confidence.
This confidence is like a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls.
It leads us through the curtain of heaven into God’s inner sanctuary.
Jesus has already gone in there for us. He has become our eternal High Priest.
God, our Heavenly Father, does not lie. He made us a promise, and sealed it with Jesus’ death on the cross. He promised us that we can “flee to Him for refuge” at any time. We can walk right into the very presence of God and know He will welcome us and protect us from all harm.
The proof this promise is true? Jesus did rise from that grave, and is alive forever more. No power of death or Hell could keep Him from walking out of that grave alive that Easter Sunday morning.
Margi’s daddy loved her, but there were some things he could not fix. Your Heavenly Father loves you, and He can, and will, meet every need of your life. What a precious gift you receive when you trust Jesus to be your Savior!