All created by God are primarily God’s children. God said in Jeremiah 1:5 before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations. God allows us to be formed in the womb with his spirit for his purpose. We therefore remain as his until death. Paul said in Romans 14: 8 if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord; so then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s.
So, even in death God retains his ownership of our lives which does not change unless he decides to. John 1: 3, 12 say all things were made through him (Jesus), and without him was not anything made that was made… he was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world knew him not. He came to his own home, and his own people received him not. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God; who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. Thus, only God has the power to make one his child.
Can we reject being God’s children?
Yes, God has given us the freedom to exercise at any time. Luke 10: 16 says he who hears you hears me, and he who rejects you rejects me, and he who rejects me rejects him who sent me. John 12: 48 says he who rejects me and does not receive my sayings has a judge; the word that I have spoken will be his judge on the last day. Our right to exercise is thus not in dispute. Jesus said in Matthew 16: 24; Mark 8: 34; Luke 9: 23 if any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.
How do we remain God’s children?
We must do what every responsible parent expects from a child. First, we must exercise our freedom of will to choose God first as our parent. Joshua 24:15 says if you be unwilling to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.
Second, we must obey God’s rules which he has taught us. Deuteronomy 4: 13 says And now, O Israel, give heed to the statutes and the ordinances which I teach, and do them; that you may live, and go in and take possession of the land which the LORD, the God of your fathers, gives you.
Third, we must remain with God as our parent who cares for us. Jesus said in John 15: 6-7, if a man does not abide in me, he is cast forth as a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you. Matthew 12: 30; Luke 11: 23 says He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters.
Fourth, we must be faithful to God, our Father. Revelation 2:10 says be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life. We reciprocate God’s faithfulness. Deuteronomy 7: 9 says know therefore that the LORD your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generation, and requites to their face those who hate him, by destroying them; he will not slack with him who hates him, he will requite him to his face.
Fifth, we must not take God’s grace for granted. Romans 6:1 says what shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? God will reject us as his children if we break faith with him yet live in sin. Grace is a shield for repentance and not a sword for sin.
Sixth, we must be saved or redeemed. Ephesians 1: 7 says in him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace. This is done when we are washed in the blood of Christ Jesus by faith through grace. Romans 5: 9 says since, therefore, we are now justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.
Seventh, we must confess God and in our hearts also. Romans 10: 9 says if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. We will lose our identity as God’s children if we are shy to confess Christ Jesus as Lord or if we are afraid or doubt that Jesus is Lord. We must believe our confession in God as our Father and what he says.
What is the character of God’s children?
They satisfy God’s instructions always and in return God will reward them with eternal life. Eternal life comes with inner peace, inner joy and inner contentment with God no matter the status of what we may have. God fights for and protects those who accept him as their eternal Father and they, God’s children. God’s children then become those who in truth please him always without fleeting.
However, if we reject God as our Father, Satan will reward us with eternal death. Eternal death comes with temporary or transient external comfort and worldly craving but tears in the end. There is no inner peace, inner joy, or inner satisfaction. Satan fights for and protects those who are his till death when he betrays and scorns them because he has no power in eternity but is also judged. Satan’s children rather displease God in favour of Satan. Irrespective of our rejecting God, he always invites us to return.
What is our choice?
Do we want to be God’s children or Satan’s children? Peter said in Acts 5: 29 says we must obey God rather than men. Ecclesiastes 9: 11 says again I saw that under the sun the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to the intelligent, nor favour to the men of skill; but time and chance happen to them all. The reference to chance in this passage means God’s grace.
We can maintain our relationship with God only when we do the needful by allowing God to put his words in our hearts. Hebrews 10:16-17 say I will put my laws in their hearts, and write them on their minds… I will remember their sins and misdeeds no more. God’s word in our hearts will lead us to the light of the world who is Christ Jesus and make us true children of our Father in heaven.
Prayer
Dear Lord Jesus Christ, we appreciate your grace by which you have adopted us as your children. We have struggled to maintain our relationship with you because of our love for sin and the world. Please accept us back, we plead in your holy name. Make us worthy through your blood. Open our ears to hear your call. Prepare our hearts to receive your word of truth. Let our will be yours and to work for your pleasure. We pray in your holy name, Amen!!
