Have you ever heard anyone say, “Don’t be so childlike!”. Probably not using the word childlike. Yes, using the word childish. There is a huge difference. To be childish has a negative meaning relating to our immature behavior where childlike implies good qualities like innocence, trusting, and pure in thought or actions. Until a child has actually experienced a more mature life, they are free to act with innocence and trust. It makes me sick to my stomach to hear on the news about abuse of a child. Yet, abuse happens every day whether broadcasted to the public or in a private hell on earth. If we see or hear of abuse, we believe it. Under the cover of darkness, perhaps we are non-believers in the truth. A parent or grandparent, loves their child and most would sacrifice their own selves to protect them. Hopefully, none of us will have to pay that steep a price. Nevertheless, we want to protect our children from the unseen dangers of this world. If a stove or oven is hot, how does a child know it is hot? They cannot see the danger or understand the element of heat. It is up to us adults to tell our children that it is hot. Stay away. Do they? Some do but many learn the hard way. They get burnt. Once burnt, chances are much greater that they will not repeat. Their memory is now related to pain so they may trust their guardians more. They cannot see the heat but now they believe it is present.
A child who believes in his parents, without seeing the danger, has faith. Childlike faith is not strange for any of us to comprehend. As parents, we should know better. We should try to teach our children based on our lessons in life. If we are successful, our child grows up relatively unharmed to carry on the teaching to their children. Even our best efforts cannot always save our child from harm. Some parents blame themselves for events happening to their child which is beyond their control. Situations beyond our control, are sad indeed, but we should not beat ourselves up. Some children are destined to grow into adults losing all abilities to have childlike faith. They fall into the world of darkness never to return to the light. Some of us see the light and begin our journey back to faith. We may have hope prior to turning from darkness, but are still selfish in nature until we become childlike again. If we keep steadfast to our hope, we become a new creation. If we can believe in the heat of a stove even though we cannot see heat, then we can believe in the resurrection of Jesus even though we did not see him coming up from the grave.
Thomas in the story told in John 20:19-31, was like that child who had to touch the hot stove before he could believe. He was childish in his actions. We are not given that opportunity to question. We are only given grace to have childlike faith to believe in the unseen. Hebrews 11:1 says, “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” Look forward to seeing more and more of the light of truth as we learn to serve others. Consider yourself as a parent looking after your children when you serve. God is like the ultimate parent trying to prevent his children from being burnt. If only we will believe in Him with childlike faith.
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