Come as a child! There are 3 things I find striking in Jesus’ admonition about entry into the Kingdom of God. He says ”unless you are converted and become as little children”.
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Jesus said; “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Matt 18:3 NKJV
First, the issue of conversion may be confusing for some who have come to faith and feel like conversion was already reached initially in giving one’s life to the Lord, however Jesus speaks of another conversion in addition to the initial one. The conversion in order to enter the Kingdom.
This conversion allows for subsequent action to take place once completed. The Greek word strephó means to turn. In a moral sense to change or alter. To adopt another course of action. True conversion turns from one form of function into another one, i.e.; a convertible car.
If our turn, the idea is a 180 degree turn instead of a 360 degree turn which brings us back facing where we left. The picture in conversion is turning our back on the previous position.
Secondly, when reading these requirements in becoming a child, one might think of returning to a former state of existence returning to one’s childhood status, however Jesus is instructing us how to begin.
While we may not remember all the details of childhood, we may recall pockets and episodes of what went on back then. The point here is our ability to see characteristics of children as adults more clearly than we did as a child.
We are encouraged now to draw from the attributes of child-likeness which Jesus described, emulating them for entry into His Kingdom. This is a unique requirement, in order to see why God chose children to be the model of the Kingdom we need to study, what Jesus saw in them that He desires to see in us.
Let’s look at some of the characteristics that would be Kingdom worthy.
Trusting. A child doesn’t have adult everyday concerns about how they will eat, be clothed or where they will live.
Pure. There is a purity in children even in mischief, a child will tell you they didn’t eat the forbidden cookie after doing so without removing the evidence of crumbs from their lips… this may constitute nativity as well. Don’t judge, we say we don’t need help when God sees that we do.(LOL)
Creative. A child can make a toy fire engine into a spaceship. There are few limits within the imagination of a child. Creativity is something God placed in all of His creation. When we are creative we are operating from the “God zone”. Our creativity is often challenged both by limitations and even perceived ones.
Teachable/Impressionable. Children don’t ask for references, the books you've written, your portfolio. They don’t size you up, and compare you to others. When they’re told this is your teacher, that’s what they call you, it's how they see you. Children are not hard to impress, they allow their hearts to take things at face value.
So, do these things sound risky? How do we unpack ourselves to this extent? Jesus loves the children for a reason, and points to them as an example of what He expects to see from His people in the Kingdom of God.
May we today look at the favorable qualities of a child to be child-like and not childish. It’s not going backwards to become a child, in fact it's the birthplace of authentic life and Kingdom realities.
