By Rev. Bungaran Gultom
The man lying stiff in the coffin was my father.
He passed away at the age of 92. Even in death, his calm yet resolute expression remained. His strong jaw, graying hair, and the wrinkles on his face spoke not only of age and frailty, but also of the faithfulness he had lived out for decades.
He was not a prominent figure. His name never appeared in newspapers, nor did he stand on a grand pulpit or go viral on social media. Yet he taught me the meaning of faithfulness—even when some of us might have taken it for granted.
Every morning, he followed two unwavering rituals: reading the Bible and walking six kilometers. To us, his children, it felt like living with a “home pastor” who never took a day off. Even as his body grew weaker, his discipline never wavered. Eventually, his doctor pleaded: “Sir, don’t go that far anymore. Three kilometers is enough.”
And, my father obeyed. Behind his stern face was a soft heart willing to submit—even in something as simple as shortening his walk.
From Struggle to Steadfastness
I grew up watching his faithfulness take shape. It wasn’t instant; it was forged over time.
In his youth, my father’s life was far from the serenity I saw in that casket. He was a gambler and a heavy smoker. His life was noisy with the sound of betting and thick with clouds of smoke.
His encounter with Christ was a turning point, but transformation didn’t happen overnight. He faced a long and exhausting journey of rebuilding his life. Walking away from the gambling table that had once consumed him was no easy task, and the pull of old desires kept pressing in, demanding his attention.
The faithfulness we admired in his later years was really the sum of countless small victories he fought for every day since his youth. He learned that following Christ wasn’t just about quitting bad habits, but about consistently choosing a new direction, step by step. Faithfulness became his rhythm, not a burden. Not because he was flawless, but because he knew exactly to whom his life belonged.
His steadfast routines often reminded me of Daniel in the Bible. I wondered if he was trying to live out the same “secret” as Daniel. We often admire Daniel’s courage in the lions’ den, but forget that such strength didn’t appear suddenly.
Daniel practiced unwavering discipline: he knelt to pray three times a day (Daniel 6). That steady rhythm became his anchor, holding him firm against threats and political pressure. My father was not a prophet like Daniel, yet in his quiet simplicity he lived by the same principle—that faithfulness is not about waiting for spectacular miracles, but about nurturing a living relationship with the Creator through the small, ordinary acts of everyday life.
I believe Daniel would have remained faithful even if God hadn’t shut the lions’ mouths. Likewise, my father’s faithfulness wasn’t about what he received from God, but about who he loved. His devotion was tested not on a grand stage, but in quiet perseverance.
A Non-Negotiable Faith
One story he told me remains etched in my memory. One day, his boss spoke with an insistent voice: “The decree appointing you as department head is already on my desk. But I will only sign it if you agree to abandon your faith.”
It wasn’t just an offer; it was coercion disguised as opportunity—promotion, higher pay, company car, respect. For our humble family, that was no small offer. But my father’s reply was firm: “I won’t accept it if you ask me to abandon my faith.”
Without even intending to, he revealed that certain values are non‑negotiable. Loyalty and faithfulness must stand above position, above comfort, and even above security.
His boss was stunned, even visiting our home to see what hidden power fueled such refusal. But he found only a simple home and an ordinary man. No treasure, no secret—just faithfulness to God.
Both Daniel’s faithfulness and my father’s were only faint reflections of the perfect faithfulness revealed in Jesus Christ. In His incarnation, Jesus demonstrated that love and obedience to the Father outweigh both social acceptance and personal comfort.
Even on the cross, when mocked to save Himself, Jesus chose to remain faithful. He laid aside the desire for relief, embracing suffering in order to accomplish the work of redemption. Christ showed us that loyalty in God’s Kingdom is not measured by avoiding hardship, but by faithfully remaining in relationship and obedience to the Father through every trial, right to the end.
Love in the Small Things
Today’s world changes quickly, often pushing us to adapt at the expense of God’s Word. But my father showed me that God isn’t looking for the most adaptable people—He seeks those who walk faithfully with Him, even in silence.
True faith seldom reveals itself in grand, celebrated moments. Instead, it is woven into small, unseen acts. My father’s quiet faithfulness as a husband, father, and grandfather became the most powerful sermon he ever preached to me.
Mother Teresa once said: “Not all of us can do great things, but we can do small things with great love.”
My father’s love for God was written in the rhythm of his life—consistent steps, gentle obedience, and the pages of the Bible he opened each morning. From him I learned that faithfulness is not defined by perfection, but by returning to the One who holds us when we fall.
“Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much” (Luke 16:10).
Goodbye, Dad. Thank you for showing me how to love God fiercely, all the way to the end.
Read Also:
The Race: How to Live and Finish Well
Discover biblical wisdom for those who are confused, exhausted, or dissatisfied with life, and those seeking a better way to live. The Race: How to Live and Finish Well will help you evaluate your life so as to live well—and finish well.
Our Daily Bread Ministries in Indonesia is supported by the freewill offering of individuals in Indonesia, who through their gifts enable us to continue to bring the life-changing wisdom of the Bible to many here. We are not funded by any church or organisation.
