A SECOND CHILDHOOD

It is quite evident that today's modern world is meant strictly for adults. Children often seem to be little more than a burden for some. They get in the way and have to be left with the day care center or the baby sitter. And it is generally assumed by most educated and sophisticated adults that children are primarily a nuisance and have no place in the "real world" of grown-ups. And that they can contribute absolutely nothing of value to the adult world until they are grown.

However, we should not be so quick to judge. Children actually have much more to offer us than you might realize. Jesus told Nicodemus, "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." (John 3:3) This is of course referring to a spiritual rebirth and not a physical one. But what exactly does this spiritual rebirth entail? It means that a person in completely changed and reshaped. "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." (II Cor 5:17) Peter even describes new Christians as "newborn babes." (I Pet 2:2)

In many ways this analogy between Christians and children is more than just figurative. Christ intends that His people will actually behave like children in some ways. He told the disciples that, "Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven." (Mat 18:3) I have heard this passage discussed often, by various people, but it was always used in a discussion of humility. Certainly humility is one of the lessons the Lord would have us learn from children, but is that all?

Consider what He said on another occasion. "Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein." (Mar 10:14-15) There is no direct mention made here of humility, although it would certainly apply. But so would a lot of other things.

Consider, for example, the value of money. Young children simply don't comprehend this concept. Offer a two or three year old the choice of a nice shiny quarter of a drab looking dollar bill. Which do you think he'll take? He will snatch the quarter out your hand before you know it.

Adults, on the other hand, are more than willing to lie, cheat, steal, and even murder all for the almighty dollar. Too many people are obsessed with material gain and feel that as long as they have an abundance of material possessions everything will be just fine. They trust in their money. Have you ever seen a child do this?

Well, who or what do children trust in? That's very easy, their parents. Little children believe that mom and dad are the greatest. There's not a question they can't answer, there's not a thing they can't do. Their trust is complete and without reservation. This is the way we should trust our own heavenly Father. Children can definitely give us a lesson or two on trust.

Another item to consider is respect of persons. If you put two little children together so that they can play with one another, do you think they will start questioning each other about how much money the other's family has, or what neighborhood they live in, or what their political ideology is? Or will they be bothered by each other's skin color? No, they will simply play together like any two normal kids would be expected to do.

A child responds to another person based on how they are treated by that person. It is only when children mature that they learn to dislike and condemn entire groups of people. If we could all lay aside our pride, conceit and prejudices and take on the attitudes of children when dealing with others, 99% of the problems in the world would disappear.

Children also know how to forgive, most adults don't. How many times have you heard someone say, "I'll forgive you, but I will never forget what you did as long as I live." Is this really forgiveness?

Consider again two children playing together. They get into a squabble over a toy or something like this and before you know it they are mortal enemies. They promise never to speak to each other again as long as they live. Five minutes later they are best friends once again and are playing together as though nothing ever happened. Wouldn't it be nice if adults could forgive so easily?

Certainly children can teach us many things if we will follow their examples, but we must also be mature adults at the same time. "Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men." (I Cor. 14:20) Here Paul points out quite well how we must be childlike in some ways but very grown-up in others

Bound up in the heart of a child are things such as love, joy, peace, gentleness, goodness, faith, virtue, kindness, humility, and many others. These are some of the most important attributes of a Christian. Unfortunately, most people lose some of these characteristics as they mature. What we must now seek to do is go back and relearn these things. In other words, we need to experience a second childhood.