When a couple begins to pray about having children, there is always a sense of apprehension and anticipation as to the question of will they be blessed with a son or a daughter. We had been blessed with Annie Laurie Atkins as our daughter for almost two years when word came that God would bless us with a fourth member to our family. I can still remember the day that my wife and I were given the news that this time we were going to have a boy. I had already known the joy of having Daddy’s Little Girl and now I would experience the joy of having Daddy’s Little Man.
AtkinsWe were so excited that we began talking about what we thought he might look like, whose personality he would take on, and what his name would be. After much discussion and debate, we decided that he would be known as “Will” after taking on the full name of William Brad Atkins Jr. We had no idea that, in so giving this gift from God my name, it would also foreshadow that he would not only look like me, but in a lot of ways take on my personality. Over the years, there have been so many blessings that have come from having a daughter like Annie Laurie and a son like Will. I could not imagine what life would be like without either of them in my life.
The message of “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son, that whosoever should believe in Him should not perish but have eternal life” from John 3:16 took on a new perspective when God blessed my beautiful wife Hayley and me with children. It was good news that God loved me and that if I would put my trust in Him I would be saved, but His willingness to give up His only son perplexed me. Since my children were born, I have been willing to give all that I have, and sacrifice anything that was necessary to keep them safe and to make sure they were provided for. How then could it be that God was able to give up his son if He had an even greater love for Jesus than I have for my children?
He was able to allow His son Jesus to die on the cross as a sacrifice because He was willing to give His only begotten Son so that sons and daughters like Annie Laurie and Will would not have to perish but have everlasting life. Even today, I still cannot comprehend the depths of my Heavenly Father’s love for me and my children by allowing this sacrifice to take place.
Great Commission Living involves telling those who are far from God that there has been a way made possible for them to come to the Heavenly Father as sons and daughters of the faith. As parents, we should do all we can to share the good news with our children. As South Carolina Baptists, we should do all we can to share the good news with those who are far from God. As Christ followers, we should do all that we can, period.
– Atkins is pastor of Powdersville First Baptist Church and president of the South Carolina Baptist Convention.