The Way to Heaven
Matthew 5:1-12; Deuteronomy 7:1-11
But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” - Matthew 19:14
Today, on Children’s day, I want to meditate on 3 important attributes of Children that we as the Children of God need for the way to heaven.
Can everyone turn to Matthew 18 starting from verse 1, At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” 2 Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, 3 and 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. 4 Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me. - Matthew 18:1-5
Understanding
Unless you are converted and become, as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. v3
Understanding means a capacity for discerning a right course of action.
And if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know. But if anyone loves God, this one is known by Him.1 Corinthians 8:2-3. In other words, whoever claims to know all the answers doesn't know anything.
A child knows very little about the world, including right and wrong. They come into this world egocentric… meaning, they know nothing about anything, but their own needs… and will cry or ask for anything they think will satisfy those needs.
As some people grow old they sometimes depart from the Lord. Their selfishness and tendency to sin makes them live for themselves. People start to lose trust and hope in God because their eyes and ears tell them this world has no God. If you think about it, it is all understandable. With the knowledge that many people have picked up along the way… knowledge often gets in the way of having a simple trust in an invisible God.
How does God select His people?
26 For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. 27 But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are - 1 Corinthians 1:26-28;
For you are a holy people to the Lord your God; the Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples on the face of the earth. 7 The Lord did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any other people, for you were the least of all peoples; 8 but because the Lord loves you, and because He would keep the oath which He swore to your fathers, the Lord has brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you from the house of bondage, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt. Deuteronomy 7:6-8
In Acts 17, we see how Paul was evangelizing in Athens, he was surrounded by philosophers, intellectuals, and brilliant minds ahead of their time. Now, Paul was a very educated man. (3) He could have very well given philosophical and different thought provoking arguments, but he didn’t compromise by trying to become like the people in order to win them over. Paul was not there to challenge the wisdom and knowledge of the philosophers and intellectuals. Paul’s spirit was provoked to spread the Word of God to those who seek understanding. The word of God is given for our hearts not for our head. If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear. Our Lord and Savior is a God who only reveals Himself to those who seek understanding. To those who hunger and thirst for righteousness. To those who are like little children.
Sometimes it’s better to be more trusting and faithful like a child. Children are open and honest about what they see, hear and feel. They have no reason to lie about most things. Whereas us parents and adults are total opposites. We lose our trust and faith so easily.
We have all sinned. Everyone.Romans 3:23 says, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” No one is perfect but Jesus. So why do we seek perfection in others? God doesn’t. When God looks down on us He doesn't see us as people who have sinned against Him that are undeserving of love… He sees the people He created and loves who are enslaved by sin, and who He wants to set free. He does not criticize and condemn us for our faults…but rather on the contrary, He is a Good Father who gave us the greatest gift… to set us free from sin and death.
Our faith in Jesus is a Father-child kind of relationship where we learn to trust Him, hear His voice, and then obey the Good Shepherd … because it is only then that we can be set free from the destructive nature of sin and grow in intimacy with our King of Kings.
Romans 5:20 says “But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more.” Even though sin is powerful, it is never as powerful as God. When we come to God, He is more than able to heal and forgive any sin that comes along with us. And then He patiently works in our hearts to bring about His will in our lives.
So, when we come to God we don't have to know anything… just like a little child. When a child first learns how to walk, what does it know apart from going toward its father. All we need to do is to reach out and trust Him. We need to have faith… even just a little tiny mustard seed size faith is more than enough for our Heavenly Father to respond in a big way. Amen.
Humility
Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 18:4
The disciples approached Jesus wanting to know "who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" In order to answer their question and teach them of the nature of His kingdom, He called a little child to come to Him. He set the child in the midst of the disciples. He told them that unless they became little children that they could not even enter into the kingdom of heaven.
We see a similar incident with a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus. Jesus tells Nicodemus, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” In the conversation they already established that Jesus did not mean going back to your mother’s womb, but Jesus explains this saying “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’”
Likewise Jesus says to become as little children. If they were ever to be considered great in that kingdom… they would have to humble themselves as a child is humble.
Listen, my beloved brethren: Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him? - James 2:5
If we as the disciples of Jesus are ever to be considered great in the kingdom of heaven… we would have to humble ourselves as a child is humble.
Let us all turn to Matthew 5 starting from verse 3,“Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted. 5 Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth. 6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
For they shall be filled. 7 Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God. 9 Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. - Matthew 5:3-10
Who does this perfectly describe? Who else… but children.
A child is poor in spirit and yearns for its parents. A child mourns over the simplest things, and is comforted. They are meek and humble.
A child seeks to understand their beloved family, they thirst and hunger for righteousness. A child is pure in heart. A child is merciful and quick to forgive. Children are peacemakers and are Children of God.
Love
Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me. Matthew 18:5
Me and Johnny were watching a King Kong movie and a little girl was communicating with King Kong. The child was able to communicate with the big frightening monster because of her heart. The eyes of her heart did not see a big angry monster, but another person. Her heart looked past outward appearances and looked with love.
Children ought to put us to shame... Parents, I want you to look at your children and say “I want to be more like you.”
1 Corinthians 8:2 says, “And if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know.” We already went over how perverted knowledge gets in the way of having trust in our Good and Gracious Heavenly Father. Children know very little about this world. But What they do know is…. love.
Verse 3 of 1 Corinthians 8 says, “But if anyone loves God, this one is known by Him.” The Love that children have is pure hearted and precious. Children are known by the Father. In 1 John 2:13, we are told, “I write to you, little children, Because you have known the Father.” So the children know the Father and the Father knows the children. From there love can only blossom.
1 John 3:2-3, Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. 3 And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.
The pure hearted children have hope in the purest of purest. The light of the world. The children of God are able to be like Jesus as He is revealed to them.
Dear brothers and sisters, only Children of God will enter into the kingdom of heaven. Our Lord and Savior is a God who only reveals Himself to those who seek understanding. To those who hunger and thirst for righteousness. To those who are like little children.
If we as the disciples of Jesus are ever to be considered great in the kingdom of heaven… we would have to humble ourselves as a child is humble.
We must be poor in spirit and yearn for our Father in Heaven. We must mourn when we feel distant from the Holy Spirit. We must be meek and humble.
We must hunger and thirst for righteousness. We must be pure in heart like our children. Being merciful, quick to forgive, peacemakers and most importantly Children of God.
Let us be like Him. Know the Father because the Father knows His children. As the parents of a child take care of their children, only our Heavenly Father can care for our needs. Amen.
