I had an interesting conversation with a Muslim friend yesterday. After English class, she invited me to tea, as usual. I've known her for a year and a half now, and consider her a close friend. With her permission, I share our conversation with you.
As her precious, black, curly haired one-year-old daughter and buzz cut, three-year-old son played next to us at the kitchen table, I asked her questions about Islam's four wives policy.
In her country, men began only taking one wife around the 1950's and 1960's. She said most men couldn't financially afford more than one wife (I can understand that. I'm sure there are other reasons they can't afford more than one wife). Muslim men would formerly take another wife if his wife was ill and couldn't meet all his needs, or couldn't provide him with children.
She asked me what we do in America if women can't have children. I told her some families choose adoption as an option. She said Islam permits adoption, but they forbid the adopted child from getting the family name.
The parents would take care of the child until he or she grew up. But, the child could not receive the inheritance because they did not belong to the family.
However, the parents could give the child "gifts" when they still lived. She said most families now give adopted children the family name, even though Islam forbids it.
Of course this made me think of the importance of the family name. Only children with the same family name receive the inheritance.
This led to overwhelming thoughts of my heavenly Father's inheritance. When I put my faith in His only Son, Jesus, I joined His family.
My adoption reminded me of three points:
1. The
expense of my adoption
Earthly adoptions cost large amounts of money. Sometimes the cost discourages families from adoption.
More so, my adoption cost my Father a great deal. It cost Him more than earthly, temporal riches. It cost Him His one and only Son, Jesus.
Isaiah 53:6 says, "All of us like sheep have gone astray, Each of us has turned to his own way ; But the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all To fall on Him". All our sin was placed on Jesus on the cross.
As Jesus hung on the cross, the Father had to turn His head, forsaking Him because of our sin. Matthew 27:46 says, "About the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, 'ELI, ELI, LAMA SABACHTHANI ?' that is, 'MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?'
I haven't heard of any one forsaking their own child to adopt another child. Wow! What love my Father has for me and you!
2. The
eternal effects of my adoption
He changed my name from Stacy to beloved,
daughter Stacy FOREVER.
John 1:12 (New Living Translation) says, "
But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God."
I share my Father's name, therefore, I get an eternal inheritance.
1 Peter 1:3-4 says,
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,"
3. The evidence of my adoption
When God adopts us, He expects us to act like we belong to the family. That doesn't mean we will be perfect, but it means we have changed.
Our hearts break in the same way our Father's heart breaks. Our priorities line up with His. We obey His Word.
I John 2:4 and 5 says, "The one who says, 'I have come to know Him,' and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him; 5 but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him:"
What about you? Have you been adopted? If so, do you act like it?
Do you need to ask the Father for forgiveness and believe His Son's sacrifice paid the penalty for your sin? If you believe, John 1:12 (above) says you will be a child of God. Welcome to the family!
Linked with:
Cornerstone Confessions
