Today's celebration of Father's Day invites us to remind the fathers themselves of their multi-faceted role in nation-building in which the failure or success to discharge such a divine-initiatedrole is mirrored in the fathers' way of life, faith, and principles. No matter what the feminist movement might say about the role of the father, the male-father figure has been deeply embedded in the human psyche. For centuries we have been taught to call our one and only God “Father” and address Him in such an intimate manner whenever we seek His presence. The invisible image of God as a tender, loving father to us mortals, who choose to believe in Him and abide with His words, does not terrify the worst of sinners among us.

While it is true that we all have different opinions about what a father should be like and how he should act in our lives during our childhood years and until we become independent from our parents' support, there remains a universal character of a great father, as portrayed in the Bible, devoid of our personal biases. In the Bible we get a picture of a forgiving, patient father who longs for the return of his prodigal son, who squandered the family's fortunes only to find himself later in deep trouble when his inheritance, somewhat released in post-dated checks, was already used up. Despite the son's greed and wickedness, the father embraces back the bastardy son, throwing a royal-like feast upon his much-awaited return. Fatherhood, as we know it in pure human terms, symbolizes strength and leadership. The concept of fatherhood has always been coined with that of being a provider and protector. Fathers are being looked upon as “molders of children's character.” And God has entrusted to fathers the direction of the family, which is the basic of society.

Which means to say that if a father has lost his direction in life, the fate of the family may also hang in limbo.But that is not always the case. Many families have come out from the depths of misery due to the strength and character of the mothers around. The exception is not the rule, however. As Bible-abiding Christians, followers of the Lord Jesus Christ, we know that the future of our families is first entrusted to the fathers. And if a father fails to charter his family into the right direction, automatically the burden to save the family from total wreckage is borne by the mother. Perhaps this is God's back-up plan? While modern societies have been espousing a liberal outstanding of the role of a father, putting him in equal standing with the mother, God's original design does not change: a father, guided by God's wisdom and assured of God's gracious support, has to take the lead in shaping the future of his family.

That's why if a father is wallowing in alcoholism, addicted to gambling, or hooked on illegal drugs, the family of this irresponsible, unthinking father is on the brink of self-destruction, and only God's intervention can save the family from utter havoc. Every year we allocate one special day for fathers, but pursuit of materialist pleasures puts us away from the path of divine truth. Father's Day celebration is more than having an expensive private dining experience or showering our fathers with costly gifts. Father's Day celebration should take us back to the path of remembrances – that God has a definite, unchanging role, designed for fathers only.