“Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.” Mark 10:15

“Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 18:3-4

To enter into the Kingdom of God, Heaven, one must come with faith as a little child, this is made very clear by Scripture. The “by no means” in the original of Mark 10:15 is an emphatic negative. It is a doubly strong “no”. Persons who refuse to have childlike faith in God will never enter the Kingdom of God. It takes a faith that is unquestioning and humble. Although children can sometimes be difficult for a time they normally receive instruction and gifts from their parents with simple trust and anticipation and with joy and thankfulness. A child does not think about deserving any good favor from their parents or trying to do anything to merit it but simply receives it. This is a picture of how we must come to our Father God. At the same time, we are to always evidence a humility and thankfulness that recognizes that the free gift of our salvation, by grace, is undeserved, and is completely dependent on Christ’s sacrifice and also accept the good and the bad that comes our way throughout life. This type of person represents the kind to whom the Kingdom of God belongs.

Tiny Tim in the “Christmas Carol” demonstrated the character of a humble, God trusting child, despite the infirmities he was required to bear. In the book his Father says the following about his son. “Somehow he gets thoughtful sitting by himself so much, and thinks the strangest things you ever heard. He told me, coming home, that he hoped the people saw him in the church, because he was a cripple, and it might be pleasant for them to remember upon Christmas Day, who made lame beggars walk, and blind men see.”

As we enter the new year let us endeavor to demonstrate consistently the childlike humility and simple faith in God that is the type displayed by those to whom the Kingdom of God belongs.