thoughts on adoption

Just recently some friends of ours found out they were going to be parents through adoption, after much time waiting. The baby was to be born the end of December, and the wife had gone to prenatal checkups with the birth mother, as well as met with her prior to this, as she (birth mom) had chosen them to be the parents for her baby. Well, they got a surprise a couple weeks ago when the mom went into labor 2 months early, so they are suddenly parents now (much to their happiness but also surprise). Baby is doing well and should be released soon, but it got me thinking about our spiritual adoption. In natural adoption, once a child is adopted, there is no going back. That child is yours for the rest of your life. You can't disown them (as you can a natural born child), but they are yours forever. We as Gentiles are adopted into the kingdom of heaven when we believe, and this is a promise that can't be taken away. I think of that song A Child of a King "I've been adopted, my name's written down; an heir to a mansion, a robe and a crown." We sure don't deserve it, but the promise is there, that whoever believes on Him, will have eternal life. Not just the chosen people, or the good people, or the ones with the right genetics. Galations 4 says "But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, than an heir of God through Christ." What a wonderful promise!!