Children of God

During the past several weeks I have been privileged to assist in the adoption process of four American families.  Typically these adopting parents arrive full of expectations for finding the perfect child.  Each story is unique. They quickly learn they are not as much in control of the process as they thought.  They find themselves somewhat tossed about in a sea of emotion without the cultural cues of language, alphabet and rules of behavior that are customary if not taken for granted in their native land.

At the adoption center they are typically presented  with three options of children to choose from.  The adopting parents look at different factors, gender, siblings, ages and  medical issues.  How do you say no to one and yes to another?  Is it selfish to want a child that meets all of your expectations?

Do you ever wonder how our heavenly Father choose us?  What expectations did he have of us?  How could we ever live up to these expectations?  The Scripture tells us we are dead in our trespasses and that no one is righteous, no not one.  It is difficult to imagine a completely holy God, perfect in every way who finds all sin and evil totally abhorrent and in opposition to His character choosing any of us, particularly me.

I often share with parents before they make their final decision to adopt or not that it is OK to want a perfectly healthy child.  You do everything thing to make the best decision.  But once the decision is made you agree to accept this child or these children forever and deal with whatever challenges arise.  They will arise because we are human and more importantly fallen creatures living in a fallen world.

Isn’t this how God deals with us.  When He adopts us, it is for eternity.  His love for us as His children is unconditional.

How reassuring to know God, our Father is the perfect example for us as parents.  He remains faithful to us even when we are unfaithful to Him.  Because He is perfect and cannot make a mistake, He works out everything for His glory and as well as the best for all those who love Him, even those things that are not so pleasant.  God knows and understands all of our circumstances, using both the good and bad things that happen to mold us into the likeness of His Son.

Now with the decision behind them, almost all the paperwork complete, it is time to pick up their new sons and daughters at the orphanage to take them to their new home.  It is a time of sadness and joy.  The children must say good bye to their old lives, friends and caretakers and begin the next phase of their lives in a new home, new parents, new country and new language.  They did not ask to be in the circumstances of living in an orphanage.  They might not have even realized they needed to be rescued from this situation.  How many of us thought we needed to be rescued from our sin or idols that we worship instead of the God who created us.

In some cases one of the new parents must return home to work and prepare for the arrival of their new children.  Our Lord has left us for a while but has promised to return after preparing a place for us heaven.

When the children leave the orphanage they take nothing with them.  All is left behind.  The new parents are expected to bring clothing for the children.  So when we become children of God we bring nothing to the relationship.  Taking nothing to chance, our God clothes us in robes of righteousness based upon what His Son accomplished for us by His death upon the cross.

Once at home some children have a difficult time becoming attached to their new parents.  Medically the earlier children are placed in orphanages and the longer they stay there the greater the possibility of developing an attachment disorder.  I am comforted by the fact that God repeatedly tells us that He loves us unconditionally.  He is able to overcome our lack of attachment to Him.  His grace is more than sufficient.  His ability more powerful.  His love more able to overcome a multitude of challenges.

How wonderful to participate as an instrument in God’s hands to serve these families and observe God at work in the hearts of the children, their new parents and their extended families.  We praise Him for what He has done and rejoice in His faithfulness for what He will do!  Thank you God for this privilege.