My Father, My FriendMr. John L. Burt, 1939 - 2006

Today I attended funeral services for Mr. John L. Burt. No, Mr. Burt didn't know me, and I probably wouldn't have recognized him had I met him in town. We never really crossed paths very much. Therefore I couldn't say that I knew Mr. Burt, but I know David, his son and my friend. Because I know David, I realized that I know more about Mr. John Burt than I thought. As I listened to all the fine words used to describe the godly character Mr. Burt, I realized that many of these words also described my friend, David. I remember the words of Jesus' proclamation in John 14:6

Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life.
No one comes to the Father except through me."

Then In the verse 7 He says:

"If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well.
From now on, you do know him and have seen him."

Now I only know Mr. Burt through his son David, and the things he and others told me about him. But I learned enough in just two days to know that he was a prince among men. I came away with admiration and respect for a man who thought more of others than himself and walked in integrity to eternity's doorway without fear.

As I saw the emotion in David's face, it wasn't at all difficult to imagine walking in his shoes today. I knew that he would miss his Dad's visits and greatly feel the void left by Mr. Burt's passing. This was His father and his friend.

As I reflect on these things and meditate on Jesus' words above, I want to encourage you today in your pursuit to know our Heavenly Father. We can know the Father through the Son. We know God because we know His Son, Jesus Christ, and because of all that Jesus told us about His Father. Through Jesus' faithfulness we have seen the faithfulness of the Father. Through Jesus' love, we have come to know th Father's love. In fact according to John 3:16, the Father loved us so much that He sent us His Son, so that we might know His awesome love. Let me encourage you today to draw near to Jesus, and get to know My Father, My Friend, our Heavenly Father, who loves you and cares for you more than you can know.