Faith Like a Child

Over the past few months, Jack has  been asking many questions related to God, Jesus, Heaven, Satan, you name it. It has been so fun to talk with him about our Lord Jesus and see him come to understand the love that God has for  him. It's amazing that a three-year-old can understand things which adults seem to think are so complex. For a child, its so simple. It's black and white. He seems to understand that we are all sinners and that we all disobey. He also understands that we are forgiven if we ask for it! I love his questions because it forces me to really think about the true and right answers and reminds me of the amazing grace and love that God has for us.

When we were in North Carolina, we  had a lot of time to talk since we did not watch tv and we took long walks together. Nature alone spurred on a lot of conversation about our Creator! When we were signing the song, "This Little Light of Mine" at bedtime and we sang the part, "Let it shine til Jesus comes", Jack stopped and asked, "When is Jesus coming back?". Whoah. I had so much fun answering this one!

We have also been able to describe Jesus as the greatest super hero ever since super heroes seem to be all we talk about these days! Jack is always asking, "Who is that guy? Is he bad or good? How does he fight?". He is such a boy! Jack inevitably asked, "Who does God fight?". Here's how our conversation progressed...

M: God fights Satan. (This was the first time I had introduced Satan and the concept of the devil.)
J: Is he a  bad guy?
M: Yes, but God has defeated him.
J: Where is Satan?
M: He is in hell.
J: Where is hell?
M: It's deep down in the earth and its very hot. It's a sad place because God is not there. We don't ever have to go there though if we love Jesus.
Jack was sitting on the floor and I was sitting on the bed above him. He put his head down and got very quiet. His eyes filled with tears and he looked up at me. 
J: Why is it a sad place?
M: Well, because God is not there. But you don't have to worry...if you believe in Jesus, you will get to be with God in Heaven forever.

I was so moved by this conversation. Somehow the  mind of a three-year-old had grasped the concept and felt sadness about the possibility of being separated for God. As I sat on the bed above him looking down at his sad eyes and trying to reassure him, I had a glimpse of how God must feel looking down on us and seeing us in pain. He is looking down and saying, "Don't worry. If you believe in Jesus, you can come to Heaven and be with me." It was unforgettable.

Since then, Jack has asked many questions about Satan....how does he fight, why does he smile when he talks, why is he a snake, etc. Hopefully all this talk will help equip him to fight against his foe, the devil!

I have been praying that God would give me the words through his Holy Spirit to answer Jack's questions in a way that he will understand. I came across "The Wordless Book" that is a book of colors that each represent a different part of the gospel. So far, we have covered the black page (or dark page) which represents that each of us is a sinner. I am so thankful for the season we are in with Jack right now...I love seeing the faith of a child literally grow before my eyes!

Luke 18
¹⁵ People were also bringing babies to Jesus for him to place his hands on them. When the disciples saw this, they rebuked them. ¹⁶ But Jesus called the children to him and said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. ¹⁷ Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”