My Daddy Can Lick Your Daddy!

“My daddy can lick your daddy.” “Oh yeah? My daddy can lick your daddy with both hands tied behind his back.” “My daddy is bigger ‘n yours.” “My daddy’s stronger.” So goes the age-old battle of kids trying to settle differences without resorting to fighting between themselves. Perhaps the same things, on a more sophisticated level happens between nations: “I have more nukes than you.” “I’ve got people who are willing to blow up your skyscrapers.” And so on and on we go. In my case, growing up, I could say, without fear of contradiction, “My daddy’s bigger than yours.” He was nearly 6’4” in a time when the average height for a man was 5’6”. He had played basketball and football and was quite strong. I think I may remember pulling that on at least one of my playmates when we were arguing over something. We humans need to have a trump card; a way to have it our way; to go into battle knowing we will be on the winning side. Some try to fix the game in some way-bribing an official or a player. Some get laws passed in their favor, tilting the money field in their direction. Beyond all the kids’ wranglings; beyond all the games and greed and war of adult life, there is an ultimate argument; a transcendental disagreement. Is my Daddy strong enough to defeat His enemy? Sometimes it doesn’t seems so. Am I held captive the “roaring lion?” Am I his legitimate prey-without recourse and subject to his whims? Much in the Christian press would seem to indicate this. Great amounts of ink are spilled in methods and means of overcoming, of defeating the enemy, of casting him out. But, in reality, my Daddy is bigger, stronger, smarter, wiser, better armed than the father of lies. He can truly defeat His enemies with a single word-the breath of His mouth is sufficient to overcome any challenge. We need have no fear, no dread of the defeated foe; he was laid low at the cross, never to rise again-a toothless tiger who can only roar in frustration. We can walk with confidence into any and all circumstances, places and be with anyone we choose. No eternal consequence can befall us. Note that I said no “eternal” consequence. I’m not saying we are always physically safe. Bad things happen to good people. Refer back to Job if you have forgotten. We can be murdered, raped, kidnapped, tortured. We have no guarantee against such things. But our eternal destiny is safe; we cannot be removed from His hand. Our Daddy is biggest of all. 1 John 4:4 You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world. John 10:28 and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. (NASB) 1.15.13