Except
you be converted, and become as little children
You shall not enter the kingdom of heaven. Mth18:3 There is great hope in this statement of Jesus. Indeed, there is a little child in each and every one of us from the very young to the very old. To uncover or discover the little child is very important to our eternal destiny. Since every one has a little child within, everyone truly can be saved. To remove the mask of adulthood, to drop our self consciousness and pride, to see without judgment or prejudice is to rediscover the innocence and awe of youth. To read the gospels with absolute wonder and amazement, to love this miracle worker and healer from the depths of our heart, and to believe all that Jesus said is true is to become like a little child. If we look at Jesus with analytical eyes, dissecting and rationalizing rather than looking with complete awe, we fail to enter the kingdom. If we look at Jesus and believe they way we did when we were children, he will make himself present and real. If we read the gospels and hear them the way we heard children's stories when we were young, we will be saved. But if we read and hear the gospels as adults, doubt and suspicion and unbelief we prevail and we will not enter the kingdom. In order to truly enter the kingdom we must suspend intellectualism and rationalism. We must again become little children and look with the wonder of a child. Drop every label by which you define yourself, father, teacher, scientist, plumber, honor student and enter the world of childhood once again. If you do, then Jesus will become everything you saw him to be and more, and then you will be converted, and enter the kingdom of heaven and you will be saved. Amen. |