Today my precious grandson Benjamin is 10 months old. That little boy completely owns his Grampy. He is growing so fast!
Even though he is becoming such a big boy, he is totally dependent upon his wonderful Mommy and Daddy. They lovingly meet his every need and he completely trusts them to do so. That made me think of a passage from the New Testament:
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“Then they brought little children to Him, that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked those who brought them. But when Jesus saw it, He was greatly displeased and said to them, ‘Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.’ And He took them up in His arms, laid His hands on them, and blessed them.†(Mark 10:13-16)
John Mark records the Apostle Peter’s remembrance of this incidence recalling that the Lord “was greatly displeased.†In other words, Jesus was indignant with His disciples for trying to keep the children from Him. Then He taught everyone something very profound (don’t you just love how Jesus never wastes a teachable moment?). The Savior of the world told these adults that it was impossible to enter the kingdom of God unless they did so as a little child.
What’s the lesson here? It should be clear; we must have child-like faith to believe that we are totally dependent upon the selfless sacrifice of the Suffering Servant if we want to see heaven. Bible commentator Warren Wiersbe puts it this way:
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“Then He announced that the children were better kingdom examples than were the adults. We tell the children to behave like adults, but Jesus tells the adults to model themselves after the children! In what ways are children a pattern? In their humble dependence on others, their receptivity, their acceptance of themselves and their position in life. Of course, Jesus was speaking about an unspoiled child, not one who was trying to act like an adult. A child enjoys much but can explain very little. Children live by faith. By faith they accept their lot, trusting others to care for them and see them through.â€
Is that your Jesus? Do you live by faith? Do you trust your Heavenly Father to care for you and to see you through the trials of life? We groan in these bodies as they age and we grumble about this age in which we live. But we are called to live confidently, walking with grace my feet and faith my eyes. We so often quote the Apostle Paul’s verse in 2 Corinthians 5:7:
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“For we walk by faith, not by sight.â€
But we need to look at the passage in context:
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“For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven, if indeed, having been clothed, we shall not be found naked. For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life. Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee. So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. For we walk by faith, not by sight. We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.†(2 Corinthians 5:1-8)
Do you live your life with an eternal eye knowing that your resurrection body is being prepared by God and that we can trust Him because He has given us the Holy Spirit as a down payment?
What kind of life is my grandson going to have by time he is an adult should the Lord tarry? My prayer for Benjamin is that he will come to a saving relationship with Jesus Christ, depending upon the Lord for salvation as he depends upon his parents for survival.
What about you? What does your future hold? Is the most precious thing in your life your last breath, not wanting to lose it for fear of what is on the other side, or believing death brings no more existence?
Become a little child. See your need for the Lord Jesus Christ and accept Him as your Savior today, for today is the day of salvation.
If you have and you find yourself in weary circumstances, then trust Jesus and by faith accept your lot.
In Christ
Dave
Ps. 37:4
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Copyright © 2009 David Jeffers