I had the pleasure and privilege of visiting with our ‘bonus family’ last week. My husband discovered a half-sister on 23andMe several years ago. Not many people are eager to meet new half siblings, nor do they necessarily want to learn the circumstances behind their birth. We don’t know any details and, since everyone involved is deceased, her beginnings will forever remain a mystery to us and her. After meeting Paula, it became clear that we didn’t need a DNA test to confirm their relation. Genes are a powerful thing. Regardless, she and her family could not be more delightful. Kudos to my husband’s family for welcoming them with such gracious hospitality and warmth.
Not everyone is blessed to have such a positive result when discovering an entire new wing of their family. As far as I’m concerned, Paula came along just in time. All the children in our immediate family have aged out of my kind of ‘fun.’ I needed a new crop of youngsters to do projects with, and her grandchildren gladly obliged.
When you become Christian, you too receive a ‘bonus family.’ God adopts us into His family making us co-heirs with Christ.
“For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory” (Romans 8:14-17).
I’m sure both families were nervous before meeting, not knowing how they would be received. Blessedly, we don’t need to worry about encountering our Divine family because Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross guarantees our joyful reception into Heaven. Christ is eager to welcome us into His embrace and usher us into eternity.
I suppose having attended two funerals last week has brought the topic of death/eternity front and center. They are not typically subjects people like to dwell on, but no one gets out of here alive. Best to choose to prepare for eternity before we are knocking on its door.
Fear of death is so common it has its own diagnoses. Death anxiety is a real thing for many people. Thankfully, Jesus offers the cure. His death and resurrection can eliminate any angst we have in regard to our eventual demise if we choose to believe Christ’s words in John 5:24.
“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.”
Jesus’ life and death gives us the confidence to face our own mortality without fear. He replaces our fear with His peace that surpasses human understanding. Our eternal life with Jesus begins here and now, and our bonus family on this side of the grave is the church. There is a slew of new brothers and sisters in Christ waiting to meet you.
I will leave you with some wisdom from Rick Warren to ponder this week,
“All of us are created by God. All of us are loved by God but not everybody is a child of God. You’ve got to choose to be in the family.”
Choose wisely!