Adopted by God

Has our Lord ever made anything quite as wonderful as grandchildren? I doubt it! One of the multitude of wonderful blessings I enjoy from the hand of God is six beautiful grandchildren. I am never more fulfilled and joyous as when one of those little people expresses love for Papa!

Of those even half dozen grandchildren, three are boys and three are girls, a perfect mix! Of those little girls, two are adopted. My step-son and his lovely wife were not able to conceive, so after much prayer they decided to adopt. Both are precious, beautiful, bright little girls who are a special blessing to parents and grandparents alike.

My heavenly Father reminds me that I too am adopted. As I contemplated that fact several truths came to mind that I felt I must share with anyone who cares to read these words.
When in the New Testament adoption is mentioned it refers to the relationship of Christians to their heavenly Father. The adoption will be finally complete when at the resurrection, even our bodies will belong to God's family. I began to wonder why God chose adoption to illustrate His relationship to His spiritual children. I know that God has some beautiful truths to teach us about His bringing us into His family through Christ.

In addition to my step-son and daughter-in-law, I have known many couples over the years who have adopted children, and in every single case the initiative for the adoption rested solely with the adoptive parents. The child had no means to add to his or her chances of being adopted, and in fact was utterly helpless. But for the desire of the adoptive parents to love and care for a child, the child would never be adopted.

So it is with the person without God. No sinner is seeking for God, but rather God is seeking the sinner. The truth is, the sinner is much worse off than a child without parents. A sinner is dead spiritually, is alienated from God, far off, and is God's enemy. These bible truths are far different from what is taught in most evangelical churches today. In fact the term “Seeker Churches” has been coined in the past several years and is generally accepted as being completely orthodox in most Christian's minds. Romans 3:10-12 us the final word on that topic as far as I'm concerned.

The Bible makes it crystal clear that the unsaved person is completely helpless and without hope, unable to contribute the tiniest bit to changing his or her condition in relationship to God.
God the Father took the initiative by choosing us in Christ before the foundation of the world and planning for our redemption and reconciliation before we were born. Our heavenly Father expressed His love in no uncertain terms when Christ died in the place of each of us, paying in full the debt we owed. Because of the unspeakable love of God we are able to be adopted as sons into God's family.

Not only is the child powerless to affect his or her adoption, but also the adoption is not related to the worthiness of the child. My sweet little granddaughters had no resume, they were just little girls who had no one to love and take care of them. They had nothing to offer but to respond to the love of their new parents. They were not expected to contribute very much to the family. They would cry in the middle of the night, need diapers changed, eat, grin at mom, and not much else. Mom and dad are content and happy just to provide every need possible and to love each child the very best they can.

Isn't this like God? He takes the initiative to bring us into His family, unworthy as we are, and then lovingly provides every need. He also give us the full rights of sons. We have an inheritance promised that cannot be taken away. An adopted child has the same rights as natural children with the same rights of heirship.

How long will an adopted son be a son? Forever is the correct answer. Will adopted children always be obedient? No. Will they always be sons? Absolutely they will be. The prodigal son was only out of the house, he was not out of the family.

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved." John 3:16-17

I was reminded recently that as a believer I am to represent Jesus Christ to those I encounter in the routine of my life. How have I done? Oh, pretty good to those folks at church, and even to those I work with. And the rest you ask? ...Lets put it this way, I could have done far better.

What an overwhelming thought that the Creator God chose me to impact people with His love and mercy. I hope tomorrow that I will remember today and smile a bit more at strangers, be more patient, more considerate of others, and more willing to listen. Just perhaps God can use me to let someone out there know He does not want to condemn them.

I think I'll find someone to love tomorrow!