Who is Greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?
"Children!" says Kelly, 6. Kelly, do you mean you'll finally get even for all those times when adults got to do more than you did?
No, says Daniel, 11. "Whosoever humbles himself like a little child is greatest in the kingdom of heaven." Daniel quotes Jesus, who also said we must enter his kingdom as a child.
Entering like a little child? Does this mean I should act childish? Maybe I should buy a train set like the one I had when I was a kid? Reminds me of that bumper sticker: "Whoever dies with the most toys wins."
I'm on the wrong track, friends. Help me out.
"A servant will be greatest in heaven, next to God," says Philip, 12.
Philip, this sounds remarkably similar to what Jesus said: "If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all."
In other words, the way up in the kingdom looks like the way down in this world. Jesus illustrated this at his last meal before his crucifixion when he washed the feet of his disciples. Peter was so shocked at the notion of Jesus washing his feet that initially he refused to allow it. In the culture of Jesus' time, foot washing usually was reserved for the lowest servant.
OK, to be a kingdom VIP I have to serve others. But what does serving have to do with being childlike?
In reading and talking with hundreds of children, this journalist has discovered that most small children are simple and trusting. Their responses to God's truth remind me of a video I watched recently.
New Tribes Missions, producers of the video, takes the news of Jesus Christ to people all over the world who live in remote places. Often the work takes years because of the difficulty in learning the customs and expressions of tribal languages.
The video captured the childlike faith and trust of about 150 tribal people when they first heard in their own language that Jesus had come into the world to die for their sins and to break the bonds of death by his resurrection.
One tribal man stood up and shouted in his language, "It is true!" A woman followed. "It is true!"
Next, the entire tribe began to shout, "It is true!" as they hugged each other and jumped up and down in unison. Then, they picked up the missionary and carried him around as if he had run for the winning touchdown in the Super Bowl. They did everything except dump the water cooler on his head. This spontaneous celebration lasted several hours.
These normally reserved tribal people acted like children. They were overtaken by the joy of entering the kingdom of heaven. Jesus described this childlike receptivity as taking the kingdom of heaven "by force" (Matthew 11:12).
The force of childlike faith in Jesus is all it takes to have your name engraved on an invitation to the biggest party of all time--the wedding feast of the Lamb. For those who have entered the kingdom of heaven by faith, only one question remains: "Where will you sit at the table?"
When we believe God as a child believes a credible parent and act on that belief, we will be sure of a good place at God's banquet table.
Carey Kinsolving is a syndicated columnist, producer, author, speaker and website developer. To see more material like this, visit www.KidsTalkAboutGod.org. The Kids Talk About God website contains free, online content for children and families. See Carey’s Kid TV Interviews. Hear a book talk. Print free lessons from the "Kids Color Me Bible" and make your own book. Let an 11-year-old girl take you on a trip around the world in the Mission Explorers Streaming Video. Print Scripture verses illustrated by child artists. Receive a complimentary, weekly e-mail subscription to our Devotional Bible Lessons.
Bible quotations in this Bible lesson are from the New King James Version.
Copyright 2007 Carey Kinsolving