"I'll stand before God ashamed because I failed the most important job He gave me as a father."
How it sounds in your head: Every other responsibility in life pales compared to raising kids for God, and you blew it. When you face Jesus, He'll ask 'What did you do with the children I entrusted to you?' and you'll have no good answer. Your shame will be eternal.
"Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world."
-- 1 John 4:17Source: Religion's performance-based judgment replacing the finished work of Christ and gift of righteousness.
Fatherhood feels like the ultimate test he failed, and facing God with that report card fills him with dread instead of hope as death approaches.
The thief had ZERO track record of godly living, no righteous parenting, no good works, nothing to show Jesus but a lifetime of crime. Jesus said 'TODAY you will be with Me in Paradise' - immediate, complete acceptance with NO SHAME. If the thief enters boldly, so can every failed father who believes.
I REFUSE the lie that I'll stand before God ashamed of my fathering failures. IT IS WRITTEN that I will have BOLDNESS in the day of judgment because as Jesus IS, so AM I in this world - righteous, accepted, loved. My standing before God is based on CHRIST'S PERFORMANCE, not mine as a father. IT IS WRITTEN that there is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus - which means NO SHAME at the judgment seat. The thief on the cross entered Paradise with nothing but faith; I will enter with the same BOLDNESS because the same Savior covers me. I am the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus regardless of my parenting report card.
When you see the Father face to face, He won't pull out a scorecard of your fathering failures - He'll pull you into His arms and say 'WELL DONE, good and faithful servant' because you're clothed in CHRIST'S OBEDIENCE, not your own. The robe covers EVERYTHING. Come boldly.