The Faith of a Child

Let’s face it—getting back to the basics of living a Spirit filled and Christ centered life is easier said than done, especially in this land of plenty.  Many Christians that were once faithful to the house of God on Sundays and midweek services are falling into a pit that is hard to get out of.  It is the pit of slothfulness.

Work and trying to get ahead, sports, playtime, and the fraternizing with things that should be left alone, have taken precedence over God.  The ability to obtain recreational toys with the money earned is luring people into a never ending struggle to maintain their Christian faith, with the aptitude of staying true to their convictions. 

Walking circumspectly before God is becoming lax, and in some families non existent.  What happened to the notion and personal stand that Christians maintain Christ-like attributes and values; being proud that they are a peculiar people; not allowing the enticement or association with the world’s idea of pleasure to take place?   

There are many things competing for a Christian’s time and attention, such, that their thinking is becoming skewed, while vision is out of focus concerning the things of God.  It seems to me that pleasures and getting ahead in life are more important to some individuals than God, which ultimately affect the “Church” of Jesus Christ.

I must be careful to weigh the words I use when making the following statements.  As Christians become more acquainted with society’s habits and unconcerned attitudes regarding integrity, honor, honesty, and uprightness, God fearing people begin their decent down the slippery slop of justifying their actions.  This in itself not only takes power from them in their walk with the Lord, but it takes power away from the church.

I see churches that once had the power and faith to move mountains, as it were, but have programs that are dull and lack the Spirit of God that convicts people of their sin.  Seldom do they have altar-calls anymore, because of time restraints, or other excuses.  Some of these churches remind me those churches in the Bible that have whitened sepulchers on the outside, but are dead on the inside.  The Spirit of God has left and they don’t even know it.

(Matthew 23:27), “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!  For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness.”     

I believe this happens when Christians justify the situations they get involved with, while saying, “There is always time for God tomorrow.”  But tomorrow never comes.  Strong convictions and obeying God once directed their thought process to help determine the places they visited, and what movies they watched, among other things; but faith is slowly leaving as they yield to selfish desires. 

Taking eyes off of the Lord allows vision to notice temporal things in the world.  A glance turns into a stare; then compromise begins to corrupt the unprotected mind of the person that once loved God more than anything else.

I ask these questions: “Where has faith gone?  Where is the faith that was so prominent in Godly circles?  Where are the miracles of healing and the power of God that works through individuals like you and me that is generated by faith?”   

The answer to these questions is still around and available.  God has not moved, nor has He changed.  People have changed and taken steps away from Him.  The general lifestyle of Christians, in my opinion, is becoming more and more like the world’s thinking regarding gratification, due to the over indulgent feasting on the lard of neglect, which produces laziness.  Pleasure and procrastination have stepped into the center ring with the other clowning around that some Christians do when their taste buds have become accustomed to the bitterness of complacency.

The younger generation is asking; “Faith, what’s that?”  The much needed teaching from their parents has been set on the shelf of, “things to do later.”  Faith, strong convictions, and obedience to God are waiting patiently on this shelf next to the Bible, while the dust of lethargy settles on them.  A parent’s responsibility to teach their child, by example, about the things of God will sadly become a thing of the past if we don’t shake ourselves from the ease that is trying to seduce us.

When will our eyes behold a child exercising simple faith as they once did, by tenderly touching someone that is ill and praying for them?  When will our ears hear tiny voices asking God to heal and make that person well again? 

Hallelujah!  Hope is still alive!  My 3 1/2 year old granddaughter came over the other day with my daughter to go shopping with Nana; the name our grandkids call my wife.  As soon as my little angel stepped through the entry door she made a beeline to my office at the front of the house.  When she walked into the room she said, “Hi Poppy!  Are you feeling better?”  What she did next made me feel better not only physically, but spiritually as well. 

I had been sick for a few days with a bad cold that was still hanging on.  I was physically spent.  She walked over to the chair I was sitting in; placed her hand on mine, and said the most precious prayer that this grandpa ever heard.  She prayed, “Dear God, please make Papa feel better and heal him of this cold in Jesus name; amen.”

That was it!  That’s all it took!  God’s power was unleashed!  Her childlike faith had reached the throne of God, and God heard.  I immediately began to feel better.  God touched me through the simple prayer of a little girl that knew the power of Jesus’ name.

As soon as she said, amen, she wanted to know how I felt.  I was able to tell her that God heard her prayer, and because of her prayer I was feeling much better.  I thanked her and gave her a big hug.  We sat and talked about Jesus for a while and then she was ready to go shopping with her mommy and Nana.

How are children going to learn about Jesus and the relationship they can have unless we teach them?  We must seek God diligently until a place is found in Him that, like my granddaughter, we can have faith to believe God for anything.  Every Christian needs to possess the faith of a child.  Everything else in life will fall into place when we put God first.

(Romans 12:1-2), “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.”  vs.2 “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”

It’s a wonderful feeling to look into the heavens and say, “You and me, right, God?”  And sense in your spirit that He is looking back, saying, “That’s right son, it’s you and me.” 

This is where I want to be again; to call out His name and know that I immediately have His attention.  There is no feeling like knowing that all is well with God.  To know Him on a more personal level is what I desire.  To have a Father/son relationship means everything; nothing less will suffice.

Children are the “Church” of tomorrow.  We must train them in the ways of the Lord, because when they are older they will not depart from truth.  We must strive to be as they; having the simple faith of a child as we walk victoriously in Jesus Christ.  The kingdom of God is at hand.  We must do our utmost to live it.   

(Mark 10:13-16), “Then they brought little children to Him, that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked those who brought them.”  vs.14 “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.’ ” vs.15 “‘Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.’ ” vs.16 “And He took them up in His arms, laid His hands on them, and blessed them.”

Written by,

Papa Boyd