You Can't Unless You Do!

"Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein" (Mark 10:15).

As I read these words of Jesus again, they startled me. Luke's record says that such a one "shall in no wise enter therein" (Luke 18:17). At another time Jesus said, "Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 18:3). If these words are true, and they are, then what is there about a little child that Jesus was talking about? I must know.

I don't think Jesus was talking about a spoiled child. That doesn't seem to fit the description. It was the kind that allowed Jesus to take them up in His arms, lay His hand on their heads and bless them. They are the kind that did not resist Jesus, but rather enjoyed Him.

That "whosoever" includes me. I must indeed take the words of Jesus to heart. I know that Jesus loves us very much and that He really wants us to enter the kingdom of God. He is not trying to keep us out, but rather is explaining what we need to do so He can receive us.

A little child has no personal agenda that keeps him from responding to his father. He has no plans that interfere with the family plans. He always finds a way to be involved in what the family is doing. He loves being part of the action. To receive the Kingdom of God we must be drawn away from a personal agenda to what God is doing in His kingdom right now. It is loving what God loves and loving what he is doing in His Kingdom. It is finding total satisfaction in Jesus' arms and under His blessing.

A little child is trusting. This is normal unless a child is fooled or disappointed too many times. He believes and trusts his parents and others whom his parents believe and trust. He is not afraid in the presence of his parents but is at rest. He rests when his parents are at rest and is troubled when his parents are troubled. Our Heavenly Father is above all, and although things in this world become topsy-turvy we can absolutely trust His wisdom and His care for our welfare. Many a saint has had to suffer for Jesus sake, and we may need to also. But when worse comes to worst, the best is yet to come. God has provided a place for us in His arms after we leave this world. We need this study trust in God as we live day by day.

A little child who has been properly taught will promptly obey the direction of his parents. That obedience will take place joyfully. There will be no argument—no resisting. There will be a trusting on his part that the directions of his parents are good, beneficial, and safe. Since God is good, what He asks us to do is also good. We need the spirit of a properly taught child in order to enter the kingdom. Any unwillingness on our part to respond to what God's word requires will make it impossible for us to enter the kingdom of God. We need the trusting heart of a child.

A little child is humble. He has no great plans for himself. He can receive what his parents provide for him and be satisfied. He doesn't need a fine car of a fine house. He does not need recognition. He can be happy in the most humble conditions. He finds joy and satisfaction in the common things of life. He finds contentment with the smallest of joys. Oh, for the heart of a child.

A little child has no worries. He lives in the freedom of complete confidence. The future is of no concern, neither does the past plague him. He lives in the now and is content. We big people must learn again to be come like a little child in our relationship to the heavenly Father.

A little child responds to correction and discipline without bitterness. He is not defensive of his wrong doings. He has no animosity toward the one who corrects him. He simply accepts the correction and moves on.

There may be more characteristics you may think of. God has ordained that we should enter the Kingdom of God with the spirit of a little child. To be macho is to remain outside the Kingdom of God. We must simply give up our carnal self-will and become pliable in the hands of our loving Heavenly Father.

Jesus wants us to enjoy the simplicity of being a child again, accepting God as a Father who loves and is one we can fully trust. Satan tries in every way to cheat us out of that place of trust and rest. A little child instinctively know everything is alright in the hands of godly parents. In the hands of a loving Heavenly Father, we can find the same contentment if we are willing to let our weight down. Even in the tough situations we adults find ourselves in, often of our own making, God is ready to take us up in his arms if we are willing to freely yield our lives to Him without resistance. What a blessed privilege it is to become docile again as a little child in the arms of our Heavenly Father. "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths" (Proverbs 3:5-6).

—Silas Martin