Grow up and behave like a child

Were I a betting man I would wager that every reader can hear the words "Act your age" ringing in his or her ears. Parents, siblings, and friends seem as disposed to trot out those words of wisdom at the first hint of childish behavior in a minor as Wonderland's queen was to shout the order, "Off with her head". (Fact is, of course, that most times the scolded child was doing just that - acting his age. But let's not get distracted by such quibbles.)

By contrast with most peoples' tendency to take pride in their "maturity", Jesus placed a high price tag on childishness:

Then they brought little children to Him, that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked those who brought them. But when Jesus saw it, He was greatly displeased and said to them, "Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it" (Mark 10:13-15).

These words can sound a little over the top at first. I mean, what do you mean - act like a little child or you won't get into the kingdom?! But every one of Jesus' words is "pure, like silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times". The wise will bank them.

I don't think one has to be a genius to get the drift of Jesus' meaning here; our problem lies more with lack of imagination or skewed focus. Surely Jesus was calling on us to take note of how children act when they are promised something exciting; they get into a lather of excitement. I remember well how our children responded when we told them about our plans to take them to Disneyland. They drove Martha and me crazy asking, "When are we going to Disneyland?" They thought about it all day and probably dreamed about it at night. Their excitement grew all the more when we told them about some of the rides. One could hardly wait to cruise the jungle river, while another's imagination was working overtime picturing himself travelling through the treasure-laden caves in the Pirates of the "Caribeener", as he called it. Jesus tells us that unless we have the same kind of wide-eyed and bushy-tailed longing for His kingdom we just won't be there. Over the top? A bit excessive? Not at all.

Imagine that you, as a parent, went all-out to organize the family holiday of a lifetime. You planned to visit the most exciting destinations in the world, to stay in luxury beach-side cottages on remote exotic islands, treetop units in African wildlife parks, and five-star hotels in various cities, to attend the very best theatre productions, and to eat out at all the top restaurants. Not to mention helicopter rides

into remote wilderness areas and cruises up Norwegian fiords. How would you feel if, upon outlining the plan to your family, they replied, "Oh, yeh. Sounds O.K., I suppose". Sounds O.K.??!! Who would blame you if you called the whole thing off.

Stop and think. The dullest moment in the kingdom of God will vastly outshine the most exciting activities of this life; and yes, that includes even sex. The very best this life has to offer is small change indeed compared with the smallest of joys to be found in the kingdom of God:

For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness (Ps. 84:10).

You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore (Ps. 16:11).

Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him (1 Cor. 2:9).

I for one can hardly wait to tour this planet without having to give a thought to luggage and delayed flights. I'm planning on riding on a sperm whale as it dives to its feeding grounds, on scouring the abyss to see all those bizarre creatures, on a visit to the centre of the sun to watch nuclear fusion going on and to supernovas to witness firsthand the staggering physical phenomena occurring there. I'm planning a black hole party, too; guests will hold hands as they experience spaghettification. What a buzz! Am I a dreamer? You bet! I can hardly wait. Am I being unrealistic? Not at all. After all, we will be like the resurrected, glorified Jesus Christ (1 John 3:2). He doesn't have to wear an asbestos suit to visit a stellar furnace or hunch up in a bathyscaphe to plunge to the ocean depths.

The kingdom of God. Billions of "best friends", every one of whom will like you - I mean really like you. Above all, in the kingdom of God we will have intimate, uninterrupted, deeply satisfying communion with Jesus Christ and get to see Him in all His glory (John 17:24). Eventually, we will see our heavenly Father, too, in all His glory (Rev. 22:4). Though the words of Psalm 84:11 may have immediate reference to blessings of this life (as some commentators believe), they surely have their ultimate fulfillment in the kingdom of God:

The Lord will give grace and glory; no good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly.

I believe those words. Do you? May we both grow up and act like a child. Let's dream about the kingdom together.