When it comes to having children, in particular bringing children into the world, I often say, “My quiver is full” (cf. Ps. 127:5). But down deep inside, Tisha and I both have a yearning to adopt a child. If we do, we will wait until our children are old enough to understand, as much as they possibly can, the rationale behind it. If it goes as planned, we will not adopt an infant, but instead an older child—one that has slipped through the cracks.
Hopefully, we all feel for children without parents, regardless of how or why they are in the situations they’re in. Parentless children are most unfortunate. If you have never thought about a child who is orphaned or abandoned by dead-beat parents, the thought should bring sadness to your heart. And if for some reason, you feel as if you cannot sympathize with what I am expressing, then try empathizing with it instead.
You see, in a sense, all of us who were once lost but are now found, are adopted children. Sin creates a terrible chasm between God and man (Isa. 59:1-2; Eph. 2:11-12), leaving us spiritually alone, Fatherless in sense. But through the blood of Christ the chasm is traversed (v. 13). The process is redemption and adoption (Gal. 4:5; Eph. 1:5). Our disposition becomes one of adoption, and no longer one of bondage (Romans 8:15). The terminology could not be any clearer.
By faith, we become “children of God” (Gal. 3:26-27). He is our Father, unto whom we cry, “Abba” (Rom. 8:15; Gal. 4:6), and with Him, no earthly relationship can compare. He is our heavenly Father and we are His children. The thought alone is one that should give us chills.
So all of us should understand, at least to a certain degree, having been Fatherless once and in need of spiritual adoption, what it is like for any child to not have parents. Adoption is a great thing. It gives a child hope, and of course, that is a good thing; for all of us need hope. For this reason, it is a concept to which we should cling. Fortunately, we have hope through having been adopted by God. Therefore, let us never take it for granted!
