The Chicago Daily News captions a picture of small children entering a "tiny-tot play lot" through a low gateway shaped like a keyhole. Admittance to the lot, given to the youngsters of Oak and Sedgwick Streets by Mr. and Mrs. Charles S. Dewey, depends on the ability of the child to walk upright through the low gate. Size too, determines whether or not a person enters Heaven. When His disciples asked the Lord Jesus who was the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven, he "called a little child unto Him, and set him in the midst of them, and said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven (Matt 18:13).”
This is an important concept in the Scriptures – we must exhibit simple child-like faith in order to be saved. Many times we adults – educated beyond our wisdom – cynical beyond our years – proud beyond our raising – we tend to make salvation much more difficult than it is. Now, I’m no advocator of “easy believism” – I believe that faith is a definite act – and with that act comes a command for repentance – but it is a faith that has no bearing on any work of our own. The work was done at Calvary, and all we have to do is believe and accept the finished work. But it is not a difficult thing. Simply “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved (Acts 16:31).” No ceremonies – no rites – no chants – no vain repetitions – no bugles – no drums – no marching bands – no dogma – no catechisms – no works – no nothing, but “believe and be saved.”
In fact, there is nothing that we can do to even deserve salvation – Ephesians 2:8-9, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” Titus 3:5, “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us.” Through an implicit faith in Christ as the supreme sacrifice for sin, any man who wholeheartedly accepts Christ through believing and repenting will be saved. It’s all about His wonderful mercy and grace – through child-like faith.
Just why do you suppose we must “become as little children” to be born-again? We could look as several possibilities:
Children are pure in mind and heart. Psalms 131:2 “Surely I have behaved and quieted myself, as a child that is weaned of his mother: my soul is even as a weaned child.” As children pass from childhood to adolescence, their minds become sullied by the educators of this world, and they lose their purity. Their hearts become entangled in affairs of this world, and they lose their purity. Their emotions become distorted by the prince of this world, and they lose their purity.
Children are innocent in worldly ways. 1 Corinthians 14:20, “Brethren, … in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.” Children have no guiltiness – they are innocent. They have no malice – they are innocent. They have no accountability – they are innocent. As they increase in understanding, they also increase in accountability. Their innocence becomes ruined by cynicism.
Children are free of preconceived notions. 1 Peter 2:1-2, “Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, all evil speakings, As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word.” They don’t carry all the mental and emotional baggage that adults do. It’s a fact that worldly experience brings about worldly thoughts and ideas.
Quote – “Faith is not believing that God can. It is knowing that He will!” – Paul W. Brubaker
