Children rate high in the Kingdom of Heaven according to Jesus. His disciples came to Him and asked, ‘Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?’ Jesus replied, ‘Unless you are converted, and become like children you cannot enter the Kingdom of Heaven’, Matthew 18:3. Do I have to become childlike before I can enter the Kingdom of Heaven?
The disciples were rebuking the children away when Jesus was thronged with crowds all around Him. Jesus rebuked His disciples saying, ‘Do not hinder them from coming to Me, for the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Whoever does not receive the Kingdom of God like a child will not enter’, Matthew 19:24. Therefore, we need to discover what is vital about being childlike.
Children are Unique and Rate High in the Kingdom of Heaven
Every child is unique, with individual characteristics and strengths, just as we are unique and precious to God. As children of God we are the pearl of great value Jesus talked about in Matthew 13:45.
Children develop that uniqueness as they grow and mature. The Holy Spirit desires to lead followers of Christ to mature into the fulness of the likeness of Jesus Christ, Ephesians 4:13.14. We grieve the Holy Spirit, Ephesians 4:30, when we refuse to accept God’s free gift of salvation, be born again and be changed into the image of Christ.
Children have nothing to offer, no resources or accomplishments of their own. They are helpless. Young children are without duplicity, with an untutored humility. Like children, each one of us have a unique importance in the Kingdom of Heaven, 1 Corinthians 12:14-26.
Naturally Curious
Our Heavenly Father never rebukes us for asking ‘Why?’ He encourages His children to question. We are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation. A people for God’s own possession, 1 Peter 2:9. It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, but the glory of kings is to search out a matter, Proverbs 25:2. God highly values our curiosity. Therefore, children rate high in the Kingdom of Heaven. We should be wildly enthusiastic and curious about the things of God, for you will spend eternity with Him.
Children are naturally curious and eager to explore the world around them. They have an earnest desire to learn and endlessly ask questions. However, keep your curiosity firmly grounded in the Word of God, not other peoples’ impressions of God and heaven.
Children rate High in the Kingdom because they are Imaginative
Children are openly imaginative and playful. This helps them develop social, motor, and cognitive skills.
We need to use our imagination. Read Ezekiel 1:4-28, Revelation 4:5-11, with the attempts to describe the throne room. Again and again John uses the term ‘like’ in the book of Revelation. God is so vast we can only know Him as ‘like’.
We should never give up on reaching into the heavenly realm. We have the Bible and the indwelling Holy Spirit to assist us to get our eyes off a sin-sick, war-torn world and peer into the spiritual realm.
Eager and Quick to Learn
Young children find the environment around them an endless source of amazement. Children also have a remarkable ability to absorb information. They soak up new information and experiences like sponges.
It is a sad day when we approach God with hearts that have become weary with life, particularly when we refuse to learn from our mistakes. Our minds become closed to new revelation, which breeds the stigma of religion. The Word of God is a living Word that should wildly excite us to the end of our days. Do not lose your first love, Revelation 2:4.
Expectant and Adventurous
Children are hungry for new information and are endlessly inquisitive and adventurous. They have an entire world to explore, with unlimited possibilities.
When we lose the excitement of new discovery in the spiritual realm, we lose the awesomeness of God. There are ‘tomorrows’ in our lives we can’t begin to imagine, for the human mind cannot even begin to comprehend what God has in store for those who truly love Him, 1 Corinthians 2:9.
The Spirit of God, the Spirit of Truth, John 14:16, has so much to disclose to us, if we will keep open-minded. ‘Call to Me and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and mighty things, which you do not know’, Jeremiah 33:3.
Emotional
Children openly express their emotions. As adults, we take emotional control to extremes and are afraid to raise our hands in a church service least we offend someone.
You will be disappointed If you think heaven is going to be a quiet, sedate place. David, the great king of Israel was unafraid to publicly express his delight in his Heavenly Father, 2 Samuel 6:14-22. Heaven is full of the glory of God and endless worship of God, Revelation 7:9, Revelation 4:8. It is what we were created for.
Children are Full of Joy
Children are masters of the art of laughter with an average of 400 laughs a day. Adults laugh only an average of 15 times a day. A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones, Proverbs 17:22.
Laughter is a gift from God. It is a great way to stay encouraged and improve your health, including the state of your brain. It also works your abs. More than that, God rejoices over you with singing, Zephaniah 3:16. That is to twirl exultantly, as a groom exalts in his bride. Pause for a moment and ask yourself if you really have a true idea of just who God is.
Dependent and Vulnerable
Children are vulnerable and depend on adults for all their care, guidance, and protection. Our Heavenly Father never leaves us nor forsakes us, Deuteronomy 31:8. Jesus promised ‘I will ask the Father and He will give you another Helper, Comforter, that He may be with you forever. That is the Spirit of truth whom the world cannot receive because it does not see Him or know him. But you will know Him because He abides with you and will be in you,’ John 14:16-17.
God desires that we be totally dependent on Him, for He is a Jealous God, Exodus 34:14. He knows we are vulnerable and promises to protect us against all evil, Psalm 121:7,8. The great thing is, Satan cannot operate outside the specific permission of God, Job 1:12.
Children are Resilient and Adaptable
Children more easily bounce back from adversity and challenges. Young children learning to walk fall down, but are not easily deterred. They have the end goal firmly in their sights and refuse to give up until they achieve it and are not hampered with the fear of failure.
Children adapt more readily to changing circumstances than adults. Youngsters forget the sorrows of yesterday and ever strive to new heights. Adults like to hold past insults and hurts in a heart loaded with unforgiveness. Correct a child and soon after the correction is forgotten. All sin you have repented of, disappear into God’s sea of forgetfulness. Don’t let Satan bring those sad memories back to you and try to lay guilt on you.
Trusting
Children have infinite trust in their parent. The adult in their life is larger than life itself and capable of changing the world. We need to adopt that same attitude with our Heavenly Father. Nothing is impossible to God, Luke 1:37, but without faith it is impossible to please Him, Hebrews 11:6. God is much larger than any circumstance we find ourselves in.
We try to bring God, the Great I Am, down to our level, rather than rise up to His. Our Heavenly Father cannot let us down, or fail us in any way.
Innocence
We are all are born with a sinful nature, which is our inheritance from Adam, but children have a child-like innocence when they are first born. They are not born world-weary.
The bible says the pure in heart will see God, Matthew 5:8. We must look beyond the chaos of this world and return to a childlike naivety and trust our Heavenly Father.
Children Rate High in Kingdom of Heaven
Why do children rate high in the Kingdom of Heaven in a special relationship? Why do we need to be childlike to enter the Kingdom of Heaven?
God calls us His children, 1 John 1:3. The Holy Spirit testifies with our spirits that we are children of God and if children, heirs also. Heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ. The work on Calvary gives believers the right to be adopted as sons of God by which we cry out, ‘Abba! Father!’ Romans 8:15,16.
God desires a relationship with His own, just as He fellowshipped Adam before Adam sinned, Genesis 3:8. There is a responsibility when you are a child of God. ‘You once walked in darkness, but now you are light in the Lord, walk as children of light’, Ephesians 5:8. Be happy that you are a child of God for children rate high in the Kingdom of Heaven. In fact, it is the attributes of children that give us entry into heaven. Simple faith in a God who is love.
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