We Must Become Like Little Children

Why, Pa? - by Keith Henry

“And He said, “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 18:3 (NIV)

My grandson, Andre, is two and a half years old and has just hit the “why” stage of life. “Can you eat your food Andre?” I ask and he responds with, “Why Pa?”

“Put your underwear back on, Buddy!” (this is another stage he is going through) and his response, “Why, Pa?”

This stage was cute when it started, but honestly it has become a little annoying; comments are followed with a question, commands are followed by a question, and questions are followed by the question: “Why, Pa?” I began to wonder if this is what Jesus meant when He said, “Unless you change and become like little children.”

We understand this passage to mean that we are to have the unabated love of a child, the innocence of a child, and the tolerant eyes of a child, but could Jesus be asking us to be as inquisitive as a child? We are told to have the faith of a child; a child never worries about, or is anxious for anything, but blindly places his faith in his parents to be provided for. This does not mean that children do not ask questions; just that they don’t question. Asking questions of God is, or should be, a huge part of our Christian walk; how else can we understand the spiritual world we call home? We should seek out the answers in His Word, which means we need to be in His Word. Have the faith of a child and do not be afraid to ask “Why Pa?”

My comments: God has told us that we live in a world ruled by Satan. This is a reality I do not believe most Christians believe. If you do not believe this reality you will have many more questions than if you do. We do not often talk about the Fallen Nature of all men, apart from Faith in Christ Jesus or that those who do not believe stand CONDEMNED  already (Matthew 18). Many Christians therefore deceive themselves. Let us not deceive ourselves. There are few questions that the Word of God does not answer. But we must look for the answers. It is the Glory of God to conceal a matter and the glory of kings to search it out [Proverbs 25:2]. We must understand that God has INFINITE knowledge. We will never get to the end of it. It has no end.