Adoption is option God chose for us

This is the title of the "Guest Sermon" in the Killeen Daily Herald (TX), 6 October edition. It came in the mail today from my parents. I HAVE to share this, written by Brian Thom, an elder at Killeen Bible Church. I love this so much that I am willing to retype the thing, word for word for you. Bear with me...it's worth it!

"Dad - just wanted you to know - we've decided not to put any racial limits on the adoption..."

In a calm voice on the phone earlier this spring, my youngest son was telling me that he and his wife simply could not restrict their adoption to "white kids only." They were willing to adopt any race.

I have to say that I took a deep breath. What were they thinking? What could possibly have motivated them to face a lifetime of strange looks and unasked questions from unthoughtful people? Why would they be willing to face the possible rejection of two cultures while trying to provide a loving Christian home to one child? Didn't they know the risks?

Of course, I didn't say anything to betray my true feelings - it just might have revealed something very ugly within me...and I knew it. Instead, I just mumbled some supportive comments, while selfishly wondering what lay ahead for all of us.

My son (an engineer, not a pastor) then proceeded to give me a theological lesson that I will never forget. He patiently reminded me of the extraordinary thing God has done in His adoption of His own children.

Ephesians 1:4-5 tells us that "He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world...He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will..." (NASB).

There are several important things about God's adoption of us here. First, His choice is "free." No one coerced Him into adopting us - He did it because He chose to (Eph 1:4). Second, His adoption of us was "purposeful." He adopted us in accordance with "the kind intention of His will" (Eph 1:5). Third, His adoption is "permanent." There are no strings attached - once God adopts, the child is forever His. It's part of His will and purpose. Finally, His adoption was "prior"; that is, using Bible words, God "predestined us to adoption." This means that He did this before creation, before we ever chose Him.

Much of this is true with human adoption, as well. Adoptive parents freely initiate the legal arrangements, they have their own purpose in making this happen, and their decision is permanent. Unlike God, however, adoptive parents can't know much about their adoptive child beforehand. In contrast, God knew us completely when He made His choice - and He adopted us anyway!

This is what God did for us, and my son and his wife understood what they had to do in response. Talk about being humbled...through this two-pronged example of adoptive love, God showed me the wickedness of my own self-centered heart. How can we withhold love from potential adoptive kids when God has not withheld His love from us?

May God move couples desiring children and birth mothers considering abortion to unselfishly give the gift of life through adoption, regardless of race. We are grateful that this is what the birth mother of our newest grandchild, Joshua David, did on June 12, 2007...this is real love!