WINDSOR, ONTARIO – Brown Beaver, Riki Tiki Tavi, Ricardo Montalban, Ricky, Richard, even Richard Harris Thomas. He answers to all these names. But not Kenneth James Jones.* He knows it once was his. It's on his social security card, his passport, his citizenship papers.
Once in a while he and his parents say the words out loud, “Kenneth … James … Jones!" They smile at each other like co-conspirators in a game of Monopoly or Clue. That name belongs in a story, a special kind of love story.
Richard is adopted.
As a Jones this little boy suffered rejection, beatings, and scorn. He was not loved. But now that he's a Thomas, that's all changed! He is nine years old, strong and healthy. He swims on a team, plays soccer and baseball, and does well in school. All the hours he can spare he spends hunting and fishing with his dad. Sometimes you would find it hard to reconcile this Richard with the Kenneth James Jones of seven years ago.
He's a different boy.
Last month, as we moved toward Christmas and the celebrations that go with it, God whispered the word “adoption” in my quiet time on several occasions. I began reading more about it and pondering the marvel of being adopted into the family of God. “Do parents love their adopted children as much as their own? How natural can an adopted child feel? How real is adoption? What ideas cross-over into the conversation about spiritual adoption?”
For Richard and his parents, adoption is very real. It is for every genuine believer in Jesus, too, in a profound theological sense.
Richard did absolutely nothing to earn the love and kindness of his new parents, but they lavished their love on him from the first day they saw him. Similarly, there is nothing that we can do to earn God's love. He loves us because. Because he wants to. Because it will bring him more glory. Because of his mercy and grace.
Titus said, "he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy" (Tit. 3:5 NIV). “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God…” (Eph. 2:8 NIV). He sees us for what we really are. But he loves us anyway. He gently leads us to salvation by his Spirit, pouring out grace on every step along the way, making us part of His family. In other words, he adopts us.
“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” (Rom. 8:15 NIV).
Adoption means a parent takes a child who isn't a natural son or daughter and makes the child the same as one who is naturally born. Parents give the adopted child all the privileges and love of a natural child, and it’s very real.
When God adopts us, he does that, and more. He blesses us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. He gives us eternal life. We become brothers and sisters to Jesus Christ (Mk. 3:34-35), heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ (Rom. 8:17). We are really part of the family!
Our adoption into God's forever family involves a change in our identity, our purpose, and our destiny. All of that was planned from eternity. “In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will…” (Eph. 1:4b-5 NIV). We move from slavery to sonship. From darkness to light. From curse to blessing. And once we are adopted, all the family rights become ours.
One day a teacher asked Richard when his birthday was. “January 1, 1979,” Richard replied.
“When is your brother's birthday?" asked the teacher.
“April 3, 1979,” he said.
"How can that be? It's the same year as yours!” said the teacher carefully.
The boy answered, "My Dad said it's ok, because one of us is adopted.”
The teacher looked at Richard and cautiously asked, " Which one?”
The answer came with a big smile: “I can't remember anymore!"
Friends, when the Father adopts us, he makes us feel like we have always belonged. He gives us the Spirit of sonship, and by him we cry, “Abba, Father” (Rom 8:15). The Spirit of God testifies with our spirit that we are God's children.
Our adoption by God is real. It’s a very special kind of love story, too.
God so loved the world and gave his only Son so that everyone who believes in him could receive eternal life and be adopted into his forever family.
For that we give thanks daily and, by the grace of God, seek to live a life that will bring even more fame to the Name of Jesus.
* Note: Kenneth James Jones is not his real name
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Dr. Garth Leno is the Pastor/Planter Care Specialist with the BSCM. He serves in a similar role with the Canadian National Baptist Convention, and he is the founding pastor of The Gathering Church in Windsor, Ontario, a church he planted with his wife, Patty, and a few of their friends.