Why did Jesus say that we must enter his kingdom with the faith of a child?
“Children don’t know sin, and that’s why they go to heaven. Adults know sin, so they can choose,” says 8-year-old Taylor.
Taylor, I admit your sins aren’t as sophisticated as some adults’, but I’m sure your record isn’t perfect. Have you ever disobeyed your parents? No more questions.
“You can learn more things as a child. A child is smarter than an adult,” says 7-year-old Hoss.
Most children learn at a faster rate, but this does not make them smarter than adults. Hoss, God gave you parents to guide you. They know more than you, and that’s good.
“I think it means that if you act like an adult, you think you’re too good. But if you act like a child, you want to go to heaven,” says 10-year-old Grace.
An inflated sense of one’s goodness keeps many people out of the kingdom of God. Jesus told the religious leaders, “Tax collectors and harlots will enter the kingdom of God before you” (Matthew 21:31).
Jesus turned everything upside down. Those who seemed to be the least likely candidates entered the kingdom of God before those who were sure they would be first in line. What’s going on here?
“I think Jesus meant that we have to approach him like children,” says 11-year-old Amanda. “We don’t have to say any special words. We need to be like children and not talk fancy. Then we can go to heaven.”
Fancy words, religious rituals, and clerical attire may impress people, but they do not influence God. He sees the heart. God knows that we can fool ourselves into thinking that we are good enough to get to heaven because of our good works. Jesus is trying to send us a wake-up call so that we don’t substitute religious things for the simple, childish faith necessary to enter his kingdom.
“I think Jesus meant to humble yourself like a child does,” says 12-year-old Ally. “He meant that you must be ‘born again’ and become like a child with a new beginning. Or he could have meant that we must be like a child who trusts and loves his parents. We must trust and love God in that way.”
Ally, you got the picture. In a normal home, children survive by relying on their parents. Young children do not have the experience to make wise decisions. Jesus came to Earth to tell us about a benevolent Father and a kingdom where righteousness and justice prevail. Jesus declared that he was the only way to that kingdom.
“Jesus meant that you will never get to heaven unless you really believe that he died on the cross to forgive us,” says 10-year-old Grace Marie.
Martin Luther said that the faith that results in being declared righteous before a holy God is like a beggar’s hand stretched out to receive a gift. Before God, we are all beggars. The Lord Jesus offers us a gift. We must receive his offer with the faith of an empty hand that offers nothing in return.
Young children have no problem receiving gifts. Every Christmas, we are reminded of this. This same capacity or humility is transferred to the spiritual realm. Some studies have shown that up to 85 percent of Christians trusted the Lord Jesus as their savior before the age of 14.
Think about this: God wants to be your benevolent father. You must come to the place where you receive his offer of eternal life with the humility of a child’s faith. Memorize this truth: “Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it” (Luke 18:17).
Ask yourself these questions: Have you entered the kingdom of God with the faith of a child? If so, are you walking with God with childlike faith and wonder?