"But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name," John 1:12
I heard a story on "Focus on the Family" radio program some years back. It talked about this Vietnamese girl called Lian who was adopted by an American family. She later returned to Vietnam and built over 100 orphanages. During the Vietnam war, babies were frequently left in abandoned buildings, rice fields to die. Lian was an orphan herself and never saw her parents. At the age of 7, she was abandoned by her caretakers in a rat infested building together with a new born baby where the rats came and attacked them both. Even as an adult now, she could still hear the vivid screams of the new born as the rats chewed on her little body. Just then, a man came and carried her away leaving the baby behind. She was then placed in an orphanage where she helped out, caring and grooming the babies, for westerners to come and adopt them for a fee.
When she was 11 as she recalled, there is this kind American couple who frequently visits and help out in the orphanage. They would spend time with every baby, cradling them in their arms, whispering to them before putting them back into their crib. Then, they were set to return to the United States and take along with them a certain baby girl for adoption. Lian took pride in her work and was very happy whenever a baby was set to be adopted. Early that morning, Lian groomed the baby girl for one last time before sending her off to her new home. The American couple came and sat down with the head of the orphanage. After a while, the head of the orphanage waved her towards them and told her that the American couple have decided to adopt her instead. At that time, she could not understand what had happened, as she has never had any parents. For a long time, she could not accept her new identity as a daughter and no longer an orphan. Even though her new parents loved her dearly, she was often difficult thinking that they were just using her. When she came to her twenties, her father passed away and left her his estate. Only then, did she come to understand her status as a daughter; all that her father owned is now hers. She need not work to earn it, because it is her right. She was an orphan with no possessions or inheritance, but now a daughter, an heir to her father's estate.
We were orphans because of sin and cursed in the world of hopelessness and suffering. We have no inheritance and left to suffer in eternal condemnation. Jesus redeemed us by making taking on our curses upon Himself. The bible says in Galatians 3:13, "Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us." Those who believe in Christ and repent of our sins will be given the right to become His sons and daughters. Once we are adopted into God's family, we are heirs of His creation forever.
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