The Kingdom of Heaven is Like a Child

The Kingdom of Heaven is Like a Child by Mrs. Debbie Eshelman

As I was sitting at a picnic table at summer camp, two third grade girls chased butterfl ies and squealed with joy when they saw a chipmunk. Which meant that they squealed a lot because there were a lot of chipmunks at camp! Th ey raced back and forth across the fi eld in wonder and awe of God’s creation. At one point one of the girls came to where I was sitting and implored me to come with her; “You just have to see this butterfl y!”

Yet, just a few days before, I’d sat at the same picnic table at a summer camp for fi fth and sixth graders. Not once did I see one of them chasing butterfl ies or giving any acknowledgment to the ever-present chipmunks, and truthfully, I hadn’t noticed them either in all the rush of camp.

What was diff erent between these two views that were only separated by a few days and a few grade levels? Where had that wide-eyed wonder of a child seemingly gone?

I think I was dealing with blinders: “something that prevents someone from gaining a full understanding of a situation.” Th e work at hand prevented me from seeing the fullness of what God wanted me to see, or at least that’s my excuse. I haven’t been the fi rst person that dealt with blinders in the midst of the work at hand, in a setting that included children. Th ere was that time in Matthew 18:2-4:

“Jesus called a little one to his side and said to them, ‘Learn this well: Unless you dramatically change your way of thinking and become teachable, and learn about heaven’s kingdom realm with the wide-eyed wonder of a child, you will never be able to enter in.

Whoever continually humbles himself to become like this gentle child is the greatest one in heaven’s kingdom realm’” (Passion Translation).

Matthew 18:2 – Or “toddler.” Th e Greek word is paidion, either a boy or a girl. Matthew 18:4 – Th is means “to see yourself as unimportant in your own eyes.”

Jesus is fi rm with the disciples who had previously been discussing who was the greatest in the kingdom of God (Matthew 18:1). Jesus helps them remove their blinders to see the child in front of them. Jesus calling the child to Him would have been so very diff erent in a culture that saw children as “less than.” Jesus points the child out to them; He wants them to see what’s in front of them; He wants their attention because what He is about to say is the answer to their question about greatness in the kingdom of God. Jesus is clear with His disciples, and us as His followers, that transformation – true change – will be required in our way of thinking. Th at being teachable, humble, and learning with wide-eyed wonder will be needed to enter into the kingdom of Heaven, which is the essence of childlike faith.

Childlike Faith versus Childish Faith

Th e phrase childlike faith is so diff erent from childish faith. It’s not unusual for a parent to ask me, is my child’s faith real, they’re so young? My response is an emphatic yes! When children believe in God, they aren’t believing in a little God, one their size, they’re believing in the same sized God that adults believe in. Children have a unique way, a God-designed way, of pointing out God. Th eir childlike faith is comprised of trust, utter dependence, wonder and awe.

Trust begins developing in infancy. When a child cries out and their parent responds, trust

is built. A child is utterly dependent on their caregivers for everything. Remaining in utter dependency on God seems harder as we grow up. But we shouldn’t ever grow up to the point of growing out of being utterly dependent on God. Children help remind us to remain in that place of utter dependence. When four-year-old Fletcher was sick he told his parents, “I want God to heal me,” so they prayed that, and when he woke up the next morning he announced, “God healed me!” Fletcher’s prayer served as an example to his parents of his childlike faith, his trust and utter dependence on God. His response to answered prayer was one of wonder and awe.

Jesus tells us to watch for the faith and the humility of children and to learn from it. It doesn’t matter what age we are, Jesus expects us to be teachable, humble and utterly dependent on Him. At the same time, He wants us to be fi lled with wonder and awe and delight in Him, to trust Him as children trust their parents for their daily needs. It seems that blinders come quickly as we grow up. How do we see around them to all that God has for us in His kingdom, which is in the here and now? Children. Th ey live in the here and now.

“Children are a God-given example to the wise, a gift to the world, a vital part of God’s plan, and a treasure of his earthly and heavenly kingdom.”

-Joel Ryan

Debbie Eshelman is Pastor of Family Ministries at Crossroads Community Church in Nampa, Idaho. Her passion is partnering with parents/caregivers in teaching children and youth the Good News.