Adoption

Eph 1:5 God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.

A little about me first.

I am a soon to be re-married 45 year old man. I have 4 grown children and 2 grand daughters. I was adopted at 22 months old and then after my mother divorced and remarried, my dad adopted me.  I started going to church while my dad was stationed at Dyess AFB, Abilene, TX. My neighbor friend invited me to ride the Sunday School bus with him. Before then, the only memories I have of church was when I was very little going to a charismatic church one night, and a few times to a church where they had a food fellowship after the morning service.

After a few weeks of attending church, my friend’s father invited my mom and dad to come to a Sunday evening service. Now dad was not religious by any means. He did have a Catholic background, but would throw people out of the yard that came knocking on his door bearing anything related to church.

It was on this night that he accepted Jesus as his Savior and was baptized. I saw him baptized and wanted this as well. I don’t recall how soon after this happened, but dad invited the Associate pastor over one afternoon to lead me to Christ. I was 10 and remember going through the Romans road and saying a prayer. However, my true salvation did not come till I went off to college.

There is so much to add in here, but I must get on with my story.

Being adopted, I feel I have a little clearer understanding on what God has done for us. You see, my first parents gave me away. My second parents CHOSE me. I was given a new opportunity that would have never occurred had “nature took its course”.

I will admit that in my teenage years, I would have liked to have undone the adoption process.  The reality of things didn’t always mesh with where I wanted my reality to be. I felt my freedom hindered by someone who couldn’t ever understand me, “get me” or have that special connection that only comes with sharing a common blood.

The truth of the matter is that with this “choosing”, I have been given a special place in my father’s family. I do have an older sister and brother that are from my dad’s first marriage. (His first wife passed away not long after my brother was born.) I also have an adopted younger sister. But Dawn, my younger sister, and I have a closer relationship with our dad than do our siblings. And I have been given the first born right of heir. My dad, I do not believe, loves either Dawn or I any more or less than his first two children. However, we have been given rights to our father by his choosing us. We can come boldly into his presence because we are called Durands. We can ask anything of him, because he is our father. When he adopted us, he gave us rights to his name, blood and love. He chose to do this. (Although I am sure I have given him plenty of reasons over the years to want to recant).

Our heavenly Father has done the same for us. He has written an adoption decree in the blood of His own Son. And has made us joint heirs with Christ. We have been given special access to the Father because of this adoption. And just as I was asked by the judge if I wanted Lucky Francis Durand to be my father here on earth, the Holy Spirit asked me if I wanted my Creator to be my heavenly Father.

Both chose me. Both love me and want the best for my life. Both will encourage me, lift me and have given me access to their kingdoms.

Isaiah 55:3, Come to me with your ears wide open. Listen, and you will find life. I will make an everlasting covenant with you. I will give you all the unfailing love I promised to David.