Through the years of blogging, I’ve shared most of my story with you. I shared how the death of our son in 1990 led us into a ministry to orphans. But something else wonderful happened during those years following our time of grief. At a recent writer’s conference, I met several people who shared about their adoption stories and it made me think about mine. So, today, I want to share a little about our adoption story.
Our Story
Our adoption story first began when we met a couple from Kenya who lived in the U.S.A. to pursue furthering their education. They brought four of their younger children with them, which included a twin boy and girl aged seven. Fast forward some years and the couple returned to their home in rural Kenya. The twins, now age fifteen, grew up in this country with all our modern conveniences and they wanted to stay here. So, after much prayer and conversation with the parents, we decided to adopt the twins. Henry and Esther became our son and daughter. They are as much our children as our birthed children and heirs to anything we might leave behind.
A Holy Adoption
But our adoption story does not end there. Sharing at the conference made me realize there is an even greater adoption story for all of us to tell. Once we accept Christ, God adopted us into His family. The Bible tells us this in the verse below:
“The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, Abba, Father.”
Romans 8:15 (NIV)
When we come to faith in Christ, God forgives all our debts (sins), he gives us a new name, and he gives us all the rights that heirs of God possess. So, how are human adoptions like our Godly adoption?
Four Adoption Truths
- Adoptions are costly. We spent more than I expected on adopting the twins, but it was well worth all the blessings they brought into our lives. In order to adopt us, God sent his son to die for us so that it set us free. Galatians 4:4-5 (NIV); “4 But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship.”
- Adoptions change our legal status. The twins became our legal heirs once adopted. God’s adoption made us heirs as well. As heirs of Christ, we receive the forgives of our sins and we inherit eternal life. Romans 8:17 (NIV): “Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.”
- The process is long with lots of planning. Our decision took lots of prayer and planning. We had to hire an adoption agency and a lawyer. And adopting an infant takes even longer. God started planning our adoptions long before our birth. Ephesians 1:4-6 (NIV); “4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.”
- Adoptions are forever. Nothing changes the status of the twins in our family. We are in it for the good, the bad and the ugly, just like with our birthed children. And God feels the same way. No matter how we live, as long as we remain in Christ, we will be with him for all eternity. John 3:16 (NIV); “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
[bctt tweet=”Once we accept Christ, God adopted us into His family.”]
In Conclusion
I imagine Christ looking down at the scars on his hands and feet and thinks about each of his sons and daughters and smiles. He thinks of the blessings we are to him and how he can’t wait to spend time with us someday. In that same vein, last year I got a tattoo with each of the kids’ initials, so I think of them often and the blessings they are to me daily.
God’s adoption process is at the very heart of the gospel. Just like we wanted Henry and Esther to become part of our family, God longs for us to join his. Looking at our faith through the lens of adoptions helps me to better understand his love for me and why he wants me to become a part of his family. Some day in Heaven, I hope to get a picture of me with my eternal pappa to frame and hang in my house (if that is possible). Romans 8:31 (NIV); “What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?”
Prayer
Dear Abba Father. Today, we pray for all the adoption stories. May all the lost and unwanted children find homes with loving parents. Bless all those who seek to adopt and provide for them. Thank you for adopting us into your family. In Christ’s most holy name, we pray. Amen.