My friends have been slowly working through this process of adopting their child. If I am current on the news of the process they have officially adopted her and are waiting for everything to be clear and final so that she can move from her country to America to be with them.
The young girl that God has led them to adopt is aware that she will soon have a real family once more. Complete with siblings and a mom and dad who love her very much. Quite frankly, I can’t think of anyone better suited to show an unconditional love to an adopted child more than Aaron and Delaina.
There is no doubt that this child will be raised to know the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. She will be loved and nurtured beyond her wildest imagination and it will come because both Aaron and Delaina know the love that has been shown to them by their Savior.
Between now, the time of adoption, and the time when she actually comes to live with them here in America though there is a longing. She longs to be here with them, and they long to hold their daughter in their arms.
That time is coming, that time is guaranteed, but it just isn’t here yet.
When we are saved by God from our sins through Jesus Christ, the Bible says that we are not only justified (cleared of our sin debt) but that we are also made His child through adoption (Romans 8:15).
How wonderful that upon salvation God bestows on us all the rights and privileges of a child on us. Yet, even in that adoption we too can feel that sense of longing. We are saved, we have the peace and assurance of the Holy Spirit that we’ve been born again, but we are not yet what we will one day be.
One day, when our adoption is complete we will go home to live forever with our Savior in Heaven for all eternity. The longing to be near Him will cease because we will see Him as He is and enjoy His direct presence forever!
How wonderful a promise that we have been given that we will one day be taken home. Just as Aaron and Delaina’s adopted child now knows, her current residence is no longer her home. She has a new home. A permanent home.
As Christians, we too long to be we know that this world is no longer our home. Is Psalm 39:12 the Psalmist makes known to God his desire to be home in Heaven and also acknowledges that He is passing through this world.
Each day that Aaron and Delaina’s young daughter wakes she is no doubt comforted in her longing with the certain hope that she will one day be home. That is a part of a family. Christian, we too have this hope through our adoption by the Father.
[19] So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, [20] built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, [21] in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. [22] In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit. - (Ephesians 2:19-22 ESV)
Hold on to that blessed hope Christian. Though persecution and trial swell all around us, we have the promise of the One True God that we will be rescued from this world and taken to be with Him (Romans 8:28-30)!
Thank you for your kind words about our family. We are blessed and humbled that the Lord has chosen us to be Lucy's parents. Your post is right on. I have learned more now than ever exactly what it means that we are adopted by God and I have experienced both joy and longing for the day our adoption is complete in Him just like you said.
ReplyDeleteMy wife quoted something a few day ago that I think is so perfect.
ReplyDelete"...we adopt not because we are rescuers. No, we adopt because we are the rescued..." -David Platt
This couldn't be more true! Adoption is not about "saving" a child, but about being obedient to the God who saved us! If we are to truly strive to be imitators of God (Ephesians 5:1-2), I feel strongly that adoption should be a part of all of our lives in some way! After all, God adopted us into His family first.