We Belong to God

By Alexandra Copeland

The invitation that God has extended to us through our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, is beyond generous. It is so magnanimous that words cannot contain or express it. God, through Christ, has made it possible for us to be His sons and daughters! Sometimes, we behave as if He decided to make us a part of His family on a whim. That is not the case. We learn in Ephesians 1:4 (NLT) that, “Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes.” Heavenly Father chose us long before we arrived on the scene. He had a plan for our lives before we were formed in our mother’s womb. Knowing this tremendous truth should not only give us a sense of purpose, but it should make us enthusiastic about our futures.

I recently had a conversation with a woman so overcome with sadness that she couldn’t imagine anything could make her feel any better. She was not optimistic about her future and really had a lot of dread about it. She said that nothing ever turns out right for her, and if she could, she would stay in bed with the covers over her head every day. I think we would all be shocked to find out the number of individuals that we know who actually feel this way. The portrait this dear woman paints is the image of what it looks like to live without faith. Living without faith is the exact opposite of the way God tells us to live.

Jesus Christ told the disciples in Mark 11:22(NLT), “Have faith in God.” This was not a suggestion. It is a directive for spiritual life! Any time that we go against this directive, sadness will be a very likely outcome. This is because we can’t live the Christian life without trusting God through faith. Heavenly Father tells us in Hebrews 11:6 that without faith we can’t please Him, because anyone who comes to Him must first believe that He exists, and that He is a Rewarder to those that diligently seek Him. Diligence requires effort. It requires that we put our whole heart into something with the hope of achieving or obtaining a meaningful treasure in return. So a person with a mind-and-heart-set that is closed off to hopefulness must at least provide a small opening for the love and healing that only God can give.

This isn’t a difficult thing to do. King David, the psalmist, said in Psalm 100:3(NLT), “Acknowledge that the LORD is God! He made us, and we are his. We are his people, the sheep of his pasture.” We belong to God, and He belongs to us. To open our hearts to Him and bring joy into our lives, we must acknowledge that HE IS GOD! Many people run from Him because they’d like to believe they can figure it all out on their own. They deny that they are spiritual beings and that a connection to the Source of all love, peace, strength, and power is necessary for any-and-everything we do. Jesus Christ said in John 15:5(NLT), “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.”

Heavenly Father knows what is best for us, and He has good plans for our lives. He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to make a more than abundant life available. Does everyone in the world have an abundant life? Some may not, but this has no bearing on the truth that God has made it available. He tells us in His Word how to tap into it. In Philippians 1:27, He encourages us to live as citizens of heaven, behaving ourselves as if Jesus Christ was standing right in front of us. In truth, the reality of what Jesus Christ accomplished for us on the cross has made sure that he does more than stand in front of us; he’s inside us, through the indwelling Holy Spirit. This means that we can live through Christ, and it is the absolute best way to live life!

1John 4:12 tells us that no person has ever seen God. His glory is more magnificent than our physical eyes can perceive. He’s an awesome Father, but since we can’t see Him, some people find it difficult to believe in His overwhelming goodness and love. If we could behold Him with our physical eyes, we would not need to have faith, and faith is the foundation of a relationship with God. This is why He tells us in 2Corinthians 5:7 to walk by faith, and not by sight, so that our relationship with Heavenly Father deepens as we grow more and more into the person He desires us to be.  No, we cannot see God with our physical eyes, but we can see His extraordinary work through others, ourselves, nature, and all of creation. And most importantly, we can see Him through the powerful ministry and life of Christ.  

We are a part of our Creator. He handpicked and predestined us according to His Will, and we have a purpose. Jesus Christ said in Matthew 5:14 that we are the lights of the world. We illuminate the earth, not because we’re so special, but because God is. We’re lights because we have the great privilege to reflect His Will and Word in our daily lives. This isn’t a fairytale. It is the truth of God’s Word. If He says it, it must be so! He tells us in Romans 14:17(NLT), “For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” God has made us His sons and daughters through Jesus Christ. We belong to His family. Gratitude for all that He’s done for us ought to break through any cloud of sadness, and cause us to look toward a future of continuing to love and honor Him. ■

Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.