The Backbone of Christian Dads

One could hardly imagine a more contrasting scene. The beautiful blues and greens of the Hawaiian islands. The calming sounds of the waves and the smell of the ocean breeze. Suddenly, the jarring sound of explosions could be heard. The sight and smell of black smoke overtook the air.

Something unexpected was happening and this event would change not only the lives of those who were there that day; it would also change the course of human history. The Japanese had attacked Pearl Harbor.

This day, “a date which will live in infamy,” is still widely remembered even though many of those who were adults at the time are no longer alive. It was the catalyst that moved the United States to enter the war.

What’s more, it spurred the American Industrial Complex into action, and over the course of the next few years, many new Naval vessels would be added to the American Fleet. One article on the United States Naval Institute website notes, “The ‘Final Official Report of the Com­mander-in-Chief United States Fleet and Chief of Naval Operations’ (Appendix B) lists 1323 modern ‘major combatant’ ships added to the United States Fleet from Dec­ember 7, 1941, to October 1, 1945….”¹ It was the understanding of what had happened and what was coming in the days ahead that motivated these many thousands of people to accomplish such an amazing task.

If we were honest, we would have to admit that there are times when we lose sight of our motivation. My children are very good at making me aware of this.

Some days, I am slow to get out of bed and the day begins at a snail’s pace. In fact, just the other day, as I was shuffling toward the coffee maker, my son said to me, “Dad, we’re not going to be able to go for a hike today are we?” You see, I had told my children the evening before, that since tomorrow was supposed to be a beautiful day, we would head to the mountains and enjoy God’s creation.

After seeing my groggy state, my son wasn’t so sure this was going to happen. I have encountered a number of men recently who, in moments of transparency, have told me that they are struggling to find the motivation to move through their day. This struggle is not new and the Word of God addresses this in 1 Corinthians 15:58.

You may know this chapter of 1 Corinthians as, “The Resurrection Chapter.” It is here that we learn more about the doctrine of the resurrection than in any other single chapter of the Bible. Paul speaks of the particulars of the resurrection of Christ and the promise of the resurrection of those who are in Christ. Don’t think for a moment that this chapter is intended only to increase your ability to pass a doctrinal test.

Yes, 1 Corinthians 15 is essential to orthodox Christianity as it clearly outlines the essential belief in Christ’s resurrection. However, these words must go beyond just understanding. The Apostle Paul, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, means to move the Christ follower to action.

Listen to the last verse of this chapter, “Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.” It all comes to this.

The “therefore” at the beginning of this verse is like a lasso that captures all of the truth in the preceding section. Paul tells the reader, “Because of this, you must do this!” Put another way, if Jesus did not rise from the dead, then nothing in life really matters. But if He did rise from the dead, then nothing else in life really matters!

Paul calls us to action with these specific descriptors. We are to be:

• Steadfast: The term Paul employs here speaks of someone who is so settled in their convictions that they are not able to be deterred.
• Immovable: This term is similar to the one that comes before it but here we might add the idea of faithfulness. Not just staying put without compromise, but remaining faithful to eternal truth.
• Always abounding: The first of these two terms is an all-encompassing word. At all times, in all places we are called, as followers of Christ, to be steadfast, immovable, and abounding in the Lord’s work. Here “abounding” means - to flow over the edges all around, to cause to exceed a fixed amount, to exceed the requirements, to superabound, to overflow, to be in affluence, to excel, or to be in abundance. The implication conveyed by this word is that of being considerably more than what would be expected.²

Theologian Charles Hodge notes,

“Such being the truth and importance of the doctrine of the resurrection, Christians should be firm in sticking to it, not letting themselves be moved by the specious objections of philosophy falsely so called. They should remember that if the dead do not rise, then Christ did not rise; and if Christ did not rise, their faith is in vain, and they are still in the power of sin. But as Christ has risen, and as his resurrection illustrates that of his people and makes it certain, what is more natural and proper than that they should give themselves fully to the work of the Lord?”³

This is possible because we know that our work is “not in vain.” The resurrection of Christ is the guarantee that all of Christ’s claims and promises are true. We can and we must show our families that we believe in a risen Savior in the way that we live for Him each day.