Adopted for a Price

As a child, I was blessed with a vivid imagination. This served me well for many years, but as I reached adolescence, it turned completely against me! It slapped me awake one morning with a wretched thought: "YOU must have been-ADOPTED!"

I couldn't exactly argue the facts. I didn't look anything like my parents. They were both short and I was tall. We didn't share any facial features, and even our personalities and choice of hobbies were quite different. For example, my dad was a sports-oriented guy. In his younger days his list of "favorites" included sailing, swimming and canoeing. My mother on the other hand, much preferred shopping-or just staying at home! But me, I loved gardening. I liked to read and play musical instruments! So different! Could it be that my imagination was speaking truth this time? Could it be that I had REALLY been adopted???

I just knew that one day I would wake up to find both of my parents standing at the foot of my bed: "Mom, dad... Why are you here?" I would ask.

"Son, we have something serious to tell you."

The truth would then spill out. In my mind, they would tell me that my real dad had run away when I was born, and when my real mom didn't want the responsibility of raising me by herself, she gave me away to total strangers. But how could she have done that??? Didn't she care about my future? Didn't she love me???

My imagined response was carefully planned. I would run away, screaming: "My real parents gave me away because they didn't love me! No one loves me! I'm not important! Not important ... Not important ..."

And in my imagination, I would be left feeling dirty and rejected. Why was I even born??!

Then my thoughts would stray to my "adopted" parents. Why hadn't they told me earlier? Didn't they think that I had the right to know the truth? Were they scared they would lose my affections? And these questions would leave me feeling even MORE betrayed.

But then, even in my imagination, I would realize that my "adopted" parents must have gone out on a limb for me. They would have paid a heavy price that they probably wouldn't have been able to afford, just to have me. They would have chosen me, even though they didn't know me. Why? Because they wanted to love me. They wanted to give me a fair chance in life. They wanted me to be called their son! What am AMAZING thought!

And with the awareness that someone would love me enough to do that, my anger would slowly turn into admiration. Gratitude would fill my heart, and the feeling of rejection would be replaced by the realization that I AM wanted and loved. All of a sudden it wouldn't seem that important that my real parents rejected me, for I had been CHOSEN to be the son of the most wonderful people I know. Because of this, I had people who deserved to be called "mom" and "dad"! I was CHOSEN!

Is that what they call grace?

Of course, it WAS all in my imagination, as my parents tried to assure me over the years. However, it wasn't until my youngest son turned out to be a splitting image of my dad that my imagination finally gave up. But that warm feeling of being specially chosen by someone still appeals to me.

What about you? Would it make you feel special to know that someone went out on a limb for you? That someone loved you enough to choose you? To pay a price for you? To even DIE for you?

I have GREAT NEWS for you! Someone DID! You were INDEED ADOPTED!

"What do you mean?" You ask. "Why is this the first time I've heard about this?"

Friend, your real father is not someone reputable or desirable. The Bible tells us that our real father was the devil! "You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies." (John 8:44 NIV)

"But," you cry, "I am a decent person. Everybody thinks highly of me! How can I be a child of the devil???"

Rom 3:23: "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." NIV

"This is REALLY depressing!" You cry out.

Yes. It is. But there is great news! Someone paid a GREAT PRICE for your adoption, freeing you from all of your connections with your earthly father: "You were bought at a price." (see 1 Cor 6:20 and 1 Cor 7:23).

What was the price? "Christ died for (your) sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God." (1 Pter 3:18 NIV)

And if you accept His offer, then you become a child of the most important and influential person in the entire universe: "You can tell for sure that you are now fully adopted as his own children because God sent the Spirit of his Son into our lives crying out, 'Papa! Father!'" (Gal 4:6 the Message); and "I will be a father to you and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty." (2 Cor. 6:18 NIV) You become a child of God Himself! You can call HIM papa, now!

You are special. God chose you! "So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline." (Col 3:12 The Message)

What are you waiting for? Come to Him and accept His offer. He wants you to be His son or daughter. He wants to have a special personal relationship with you. He chose YOU! YOU are important to HIM!

Adoption? Great news indeed!

Rob Chaffart

Adopted for a Price

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