By Pastor Chad
The story goes that a king conquered an ancient city. A city that was a perpetual rival and antagonist against his kingdom. To better understand the people of the newly conquered city, the king disguised himself as a common citizen, and walked the city streets. What he saw was heartbreaking. The filth and sickness were rampant. Crime and lawlessness engrossed the city. As he happened upon one street, he noticed some young children sitting in the alleyway. Their condition was worse than their surroundings. They were half naked, clearly malnourished, filthy, and racked with sores. Grouped together in a suspicious way, the kids were clearly conspiring some mischief.
He approached the children and asked, “What are you doing?” Frightened by the sudden appearance of the stranger, the children scattered into the alleyway. “Stop!” yelled the king. “I mean you no harm!”
Most continued in their flight, but three young boys slowly approached the disguised royal in hopes he would offer money or food. Though still farther than arm's length, the children asked what the king wanted. “Want? Oh, nothing, young lads. I was curious as to what you all wanted. What were you talking about when I came upon you?”
“Look at us!” begged the haggard boys. “We are sick! We are filthy! We are cold! And–most of all–we are starving! We were scheming ways to get food–even if we have to steal and kill for it.”
Saying no more, the king fled in tears, weeping until he entered the city palace. He immediately ordered that all the children be brought to his table and fed.
“Which ones?” asked the servant.
“All of them!” said the king. “All who will come, bring and feed at my table. All the lost and wandering children. All the broken and sick. Bring them to my house! I will clean them, clothe them, feed them, mend them, and make them my own. Those who come will no longer be outsiders. Those who respond to your invitation will no longer live in darkness. Give them my food and clothe them in royal garments. From this day forward, all who come at your invitation will be my adopted sons and daughters. Now they will live here with me and experience all the benefits of my royal inheritance.”
In Romans 8:13-17, Paul declares, “For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, ‘Abba! Father!’ The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.”
If you have been redeemed, you are no longer a slave to sin. We have now been adopted. Adoption is an act of God in which He makes us part of His family. This is what salvation does. This is part of our salvation. We are no longer outsiders. We are in the family of God. We are royal sons and daughters of the King.
The responsibilities, privileges, and benefits afforded to the children of God are an obligation of obedience, a personal relationship with the King of Kings, and eternal life with God. First, let me note the obligation of obedience. As adopted children, we now are “debtors” (Romans 8:13) to the one that has freed us. We have an obligation to follow Christ in obedience and worship.
Second, as children of the king, you now have a personal, intimate connection with our Lord. Paul says we can cry out to Him as “Abba! Father!” This term “Abba” is an aramaic word for “father.” In crying “Abba! Father” we cry, “Father, dear Father!” This relationship is real and personal. It is a closeness that offers us a constant audience with the King.
Last, as an added benefit, adoption means we will spend eternity with our Lord and Savior, the King of Kings, in His manifest presence. On that day, we will no longer be hindered by these frail, broken, sinful bodies. Then, we will know Him as He is because He will make us like Himself–resurrected and glorified. It is then we shall cry out with the sons of Korah, “For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere” (Psalm 84:10).