Children of God

"See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are."  1 John 3:1 (NASB)

I was preaching on this text Sunday and have reflected on it since and am absolutely floored by the truth in this statement.  When we properly understand who we are apart from Christ, this truth becomes even more overwhelming.  You see, I was not a good person walking a path toward God.  I was an enemy of God - under the wrath of God - far from God.  And it was in this condition of alienation that God chose to change me and make me like His Son.  We are children of God solely because God called us to be so. 
The truth of our adoption goes so much farther though as we take a look through the rest of the Bible.  One of my favorite passages is found in Romans 8.

"The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him."  Romans 8:16-17 (NASB)

Here Paul reminds us that we are indeed children of God and that the Holy Spirit present in our life is the testimony of this truth, but goes farther and adds that because we are children of God, we are heirs with Christ.  This means that we inherit everything that Christ inherits.  And Christ gets everything.  God does not just make us children - he makes us children who are co-heirs with Christ.  Can you imagine an American revolutionary soldier taking a British soldier and adopting him as his own child and even giving him equal shares of the inheritance?  An Allied soldier adopting a Nazi?  This is what God did for you and for me. 
But there is an even cooler part.  Are you ready?  The trials that we go through - they are a reminder that we are God's adopted children who are receiving the inheritance of Christ.  Notice the last part of Romans 8:17. We suffer with Christ because that is part of what Christ receives - temporary suffering for eternal reward.   I think that is a pretty good trade.  And, it means that my cancer = a reminder of the adoption into God's family.  My temporary "homelessness" = a reminder of my adoption into God's family.  But, it is only good news for those who are fellow heirs with Christ.  If you have never placed your faith and trust in Christ you cannot share my hope. 
I am truly blessed to be a child of God.  Are you?