Children of God

I have been hearing a comment that concerns me of late. It is that we are "ALL children of God". Does that statement raise any red flags for you?

I would contend that each human is, obviously, God's miraculous Creation, lovingly made by God with the desire that that child would someday come to Him and desire a relationship. That that created soul would someday become grafted or adopted into His Forever Family. How our Creator God longs for and would love for that to happen!

It is my understanding that the Lord pursues, calls and softens the hearts of His Creation. It is then up to each one, individually, to exercise their God given self will, and decide whether or not to answer that call, to become a Christ follower; to surrender one's repentant heart and life to Christ in an act of true belief and obedience. To desire to be used of God to grow His Kingdom!

Not everybody is automatically "God's child". It requires an encounter of divine intervention, just as a child is adopted only after an encounter of legal intervention. It requires a time of surrendering our right to a life of our own selfish pursuit, just like a biological parent needs to surrender their rights, for a child to then become adoptable.

It is God's will that ALL would come to Him. That is addressed in His Word. Yet, there is alot of Scripture that speaks to predestination, to the Lord "calling those He would"....What does this all mean? It is still somewhat of a mystery to me. I know that the Lord wants the Word to go out, to all "tribes and nations". We all are to be in tune to His Spirit's urging, ready to share the Gospel, both verbally and in how we live with those around us. God's Holy Spirit does the work. God is Sovereign and the ultimate righteous judge. He knows, because He is omnicient God, who will say yes to and who will reject His invitation. Is that where the predestination point comes in? Maybe. Someday we might understand, if He deems it in our best interest. In the meanwhile, we go forward, day by day, thankful and humbled by His divine grace and blessings, ready to be His mouthpiece and His willing servant!

So getting back to the main premise of this post....

A true understanding of who is a Child of God makes a huge difference. You might even say that it is a matter of "life and death". To provide the false narrative that we are automatically God's Child may hinder a person from possibly pursuing the Truth of the Gospel and of seeking to know Christ as their personal Savior.

Just this morning, I heard a disturbing comment on a news podcast that shared of how one with great authority decided to bless same-sex partnerships, as they too are "children of God". That, my friend, is a judgment call, that this person can not automatically make. Thy are not God's children just because they are His creation!

I also wanted to share about a children's book that I recently read. It was about being made "in God's image". The book shared that each created child, automatically has God's character traits within them because they are, after all, created "in His image". I would contend (after researching), that God created man to be like Him, likely in physical appearance to some degree and with a mind and a soul or Spirit (just as the Holy Spirit is part of God). He created man on a different plane then the fish, birds, animals and creeping things. While they all are blessed with life, they do not have the brain capacity or a soul by which they can connect with God intellectually and spiritually. He made man to be over the rest of creation, and to act as a care-taker of what He had created. What a gift of love, that He created us, in His image, and thus capable of having a relationship with Him, our loving Creator!

It is not until we surrender out heart to Jesus and become His Child, that He transforms our heart and provides us with the Holy Spirit by which we start the sanctifying process of taking on the traits of God and becoming more and more like Him, like Chirst. So again, this book promotes a concerning doctrine to share with kids. Rather, we should encourage them to always learn about and grow in His ways, for "even a child is known by his doings". A tender hearted child striving to follow Jesus is a beautiful thing. A desired thing. Children should be taught that the day will come when they will sense the Lord's call, when they will recognize that they are a sinner in need of God's saving grace. That time of mental and spiritual maturation where-in one is able to grasp the Truth and ramifictions of the Gospel varies with ech person. God alone knows the hearts of His creation and calls them accordingly.

So, I just wanted to share this. I would welcome any thoughts or insights. I admit, I have so much to learn! I pray that I am soft and moldable to the Spirit's work and teachings, that I am willing to fore-go my preconcieved ideas if they are not in line with Scripture. I also recognize that many things are meant to be a mystery and accepted in faith; things that we may never understand this side of Heaven. The Lord simply asks us to love, serve and obey Him with a heart of true belief. We will all have forever to learn more and more about our Sovereign and loving God! Can you imagine the depth of joy and meaning that awaits!

But I do feel that these points are worthy of consideration, especially in light of how we teach and live out the Gospel to those we love and come into contact with. And as we navigate this time and place of progressive Christianity, where spiritual deception is rampant, we as God's Children need to recognize it and be willing to share the Truth of the Gospel. For,it is our hope and prayer that those we love and care for, as well as many many more will someday become....

Children of God!