| Children: Doorway
to the kingdom of heaven
It is often said that children are the future of the church.
Of course it is impossible, on the one hand, to disagree with
this. Many of the children who grow up in the church hearing the
word of God, praying with parents and older Christian friends,
and experiencing the love of Christ in the Christian community
will in God’s time become the leaders of the church in the
future.
But to say this completely misses the point of what Jesus had
in mind when he said "Let the children come to me, and do
not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven"
(Matthew 19:14). Children are more than the future of the church.
They reveal to us the presence of the kingdom of God in the church
today.
When I look into the face of children I am often struck by the
strength of joy in their eyes. Their eyes seem to shine with a
powerful light that can only be a reflection of the kingdom of
heaven. God puts this light into them and it shines through them
simply because they are children. Sometimes, though not so often,
I see that same light and joy in the faces of adults. The light
and joy in the faces of adults comes from knowing and living close
to Christ. The light and joy we see in the faces of children is
a reflection of the kingdom of heaven in them, although children
usually have no idea what a great gift they have been given.
The sad fact is that this gift of the kingdom of heaven, given
to children, is not given forever, for children will grow up to
become adults. The light of the kingdom of heaven so visible in
children’s faces will fade and darken as they are confronted
with the temptations and sins of youth and adulthood if they are
not reborn into a new childhood by faith in Jesus Christ. The
life of an adult, apart from Christ is a dreary and tiresome thing.
But to trust in the Son of God is to live in his light and to
know yourself as a beloved child of the Father.
The summer is now past. The first of September with its ceremonies
marking the new school year has come and gone. Children have begun
attending schools. Many churches have begun or are beginning a
Sunday school program or a Christian children’s club. As
a parent or teacher you may feel enthusiastic about this new year
of school. On the other hand, you may feel tired because of the
increased load of responsibility you now bear in teaching children
or helping them with their school work after the rest and recreation
of the summer.
But whether you are feeling encouraged or discouraged about the
working with children, don’t forget to look for the light
of God’s kingdom in the faces of your children. That light
will also shine into your heart, and help you to stand in the
unfading light of God’s kingdom through the coming fall and
winter.
Grace and Peace,
Donald Marsden
The 2002 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 94
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