In the gospels Jesus warned that “unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven (Matt.18:3).” Then, in the epistles, Paul also warns against childish ways of acting (1Cor.13:11) and thinking (1Cor.14:20). In light of these admonishments, it seems vital that we should learn and discern the difference between being childlike and being childish.
Paul appears to address some of these childish patterns when he wrote to the Galatians, calling out things like discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissentions, factions… (Gal.5:19-20), ultimately concluding that those who live like this would not inherit the Kingdom of God. And from his description of God’s love to the Corinthians (1Cor.13:4-7), things like being impatient, unforgiving, competitive, easily offended, and quick tempered could also be included.
While all of these traits are commonplace within the typical human experience, God is calling His children to something higher. Jesus said that anyone who was not willing to take up their cross and follow Him was unworthy of Him (Matt.10:38). While Paul pointed out the need to “crucify the flesh” (Gal.5:24), and Peter spoke of partaking of the divine nature (2Pet.1:4). This is all a part of the transformation that God intends to work in those who follow Him.
More important than simply misbehaving is the issue of trusting the Father and accepting what we cannot hope to fully comprehend. The scripture contains numerous passages which reference the limitations of our understanding. We know in part and prophesy in part (1Cor.13:9). We see as through a glass dimly (1Cor.13:12). God’s ways are higher than our ways (Isaiah 55:8-9). The wisdom of man is foolishness to God (1Cor.1:25). He can do exceedingly, abundantly more than we could ask for or imagine (Eph.3:20). If we must have foreknowledge and certainty in order to believe, we are sure to be disheartened. In order to be effective, our faith must be “childlike”.
In many ways, what God offered mankind in the garden was the chance to be His children. Had Adam and Eve chosen to follow His direction, they could have lived out their days naked, unashamed, unburdened, and completely unaware of sickness, evil and death. They would have simply existed within the bubble of the Father’s love and protection. But something within their nature found the offer of autonomy (i.e. self-rule) to be too good to pass up.
I see this demonstrated clearly in my young granddaughter, who lives with us. She is a precious, beautiful child, who is bold, energetic, and full of curiosity. Not surprisingly, she wasn’t even ten months old when she started walking, and containing her became a daily challenge.
When the playpen proved to be too restrictive for this 20 lb. force of nature, we fenced in our living room with plastic fencing in order to keep her from the fireplace, the stereo cabinet, bookshelves, electrical outlets… and we constructed a gate, so that us older folks didn’t have to hurdle our way in to, and out of, the living room.
Within this room sized play yard, we placed all manner of soft, colorful, musical, and educational things for her to engage with. Above all else it was intended to be a safe space for her to learn and grow; but from its inception she made it her mission to escape from it.
In this quest, she’s demonstrated amazing resourcefulness, as she’s tried to pull the fence up to crawl underneath it; to slide herself between the seams in the panels, and to push the fence (or gate) down. When those efforts failed, she’s pushed her rocking chair, or her wheeled horse to the fence, and tried to use them to climb over it.
Often times, she’d stand at the gate, and shake it by its bars. Every time the gate would open, she would stop what she was doing and run toward it. Every time the gate would close, she’d let out a yelp of protest. Indeed, the mere existence of this fence seems to be an affront to her soul. Even without any conscious understanding of it, she instinctively pushed against the concept of limitations or boundaries.
Anyone who’s raised a child, or spent any amount of time with a toddler can probably attest to the fact that these behaviors are not particularly unusual for children at that stage, and I feel sure that to some degree they are a reflection of our unvarnished human nature. Over time, we will likely train this little girl to behave differently, but these patterns provide some insight into how humans respond in their natural state.
As I have prayed for this little one, the Lord has impressed upon me that this is how it is with His children as well. Like us, He tried to setup a safe and ideal situation for them, but they chose to go their own way. He then tried to create healthy boundaries to keep them safe, but they perceive that He is trying to keep them from the “good stuff”, and rebel against them. Indeed, the very idea that He would set limitations causes many to doubt His goodness.
Because we are created in God’s image, children come with an undefiled capacity to love and trust, but they also possess a natural penchant toward self-centeredness and impatience. Sorting through these conflicting traits is part of stepping into our identities as Children of God.
There is a way that naturally seems right to a man, but it ultimately leads to death (Pro.14:12), and apart from God we can do nothing (John 15:5). Given mankind’s aforementioned love of independence, the struggle to humble ourselves and surrender our mind, will, and emotions to the Lord’s purposes is a moment by moment battle.
Jesus said, that “anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it (Mark 10:15, Luke 19:17)”. And, He openly thanked the Father for concealing these things from the wise & learned, choosing instead to reveal them to the “little children” (Matt.11:25, Luke 10:21). This means that we can neither earn or learn our way into the kingdom.
Scripture tells us that God resists the proud (James 4:6), and Jesus’ ministry clearly reflects this. We don’t see Him publicly shaming prostitutes and thieves for their sin, but we do see Him openly confronting the prideful religious leaders, who’d counted themselves as righteous. We don’t see Him flipping tables in the marketplace because of people’s iniquity, but we do see Him flipping tables in the temple because of their misrepresentation of the Father’s heart (Matt.21-12). Indeed, judgement begins in the house of God (1 Pet.4:17).
The Kingdom of God is not a location, it is a supernatural state of living in submission to His Lordship. Jesus modeled this pattern for us during His time on the earth, as He refused to act apart from His Father’s will. Because of this He could truthfully claim, “if you’ve seen me, you’ve seen the Father (John 14:7)”.
When I was a child, I used to sit in the back seat of our family car, staring at the passing scenery, and wondering at the world. I was never burdened by thoughts of where we might be going, or what route we would take to get there, because my father was driving, and I had utter confidence in his judgement, and ability to get us there safely. I would submit that this is a fair representation of the journey the Lord intends for us.
He offers us a peace that surpasses understanding, joy unspeakable, unshakable hope, and profound rest. I would submit that this is a reflection of what He initially offered mankind in the garden, and it is the fruit of genuinely abiding in the vine, and within the shelter of His sovereign grace. But like Adam, He gives us the option to live as His children, or to live by our own sense of what is right.
“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.[f] And by him we cry, “Abba,[g] 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 (Rom.8:14-17).”
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The Reality of Eternity
Posted in Commentaries, tagged childish, eternity, illusion, lukewarm, middle ground, self-pity, straddling the fence on May 1, 2024| Leave a Comment »
As I focus on eternal things, there is a growing sense within me of the stark contrast between the shadowy images of this life, and the sharp clarity of the next. Despite mankind’s (and the church’s) best efforts to find (or create) the “middle ground” here on earth, there is still no middle ground in heaven. There is a jarring reality to eternity that we can’t really comprehend, but on the day that we face it, there will be no escaping its preeminence and permanence.
Today we have the luxury of rationalization, but on that day only the truth will prevail. As the Kingdom of God approaches, the illusion of the middle ground is being destroyed. It is the fulfillment of the God’s promise to spew the lukewarm from His mouth. This morning I felt like the Lord gave me a picture of what it means to be lukewarm; He said that it is when you resemble “Him” enough to remind the enemy of his hatred for “The Father”, but not enough to remind “The Father” of “The Son”.
This caused me to recall something He told me years ago, which is that we’ve tried to use His grace like a stolen credit card; illegitimately attempting to obtain things that haven’t been accounted to us. As I was worshipping this morning I was reminded of the fact that one day the books will be opened, the accounts will be balanced and the reality of who we really are will become apparent. The song I was listening to said it this way:
Where will we turn when our world falls apart
And all of the treasures we’ve stored in our barns
Can’t buy the Kingdom of God
And who will we praise when we’ve praised all our lives
Men who build kingdoms and men who build things
Heaven does not know their names
What will we fear when all that remains is God on the throne
With a child in His arms and love in His eyes
And the sound of His hearts cry
(From the song “Poverty” by Jason Upton)
The Apostle Paul said, “When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things.” Throughout the epistles he exhorts us to do the same. It’s likely that none of us want to think of ourselves as being childish, or as inhabiting the middle ground, but I sense the Lord challenging us to allow Him to reveal the “childish things” that we still need to put away. To uncover those instances where we’ve become callous and numb to other people’s pain, or those circumstances that we’ve unwittingly become slaves to, or those things that we’re coveting and maybe even making into idols.
He wants to show us those places where we’re straddling the fence, where self-pity, jealousy, and bitterness dwell. And to expose the imaginings that have replaced the genuine prophetic vision He means to give us. On the appointed day, each of us will wake up from the dream of this life, and step into the reality of eternity.
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