A new year has begun and all over the world people have called out “Happy New Year”. As part of this celebration the new year is often portrayed as a baby with a sash showing which year it is. The symbolism makes it easy to see a new year – a new beginning.

As I was thinking of this symbolism, I couldn’t but help but think of what Nicodemus, a Jewish ruler, was told by Jesus in John 3:3: “Unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” This was not the only time this concept was presented. In Matthew 18:3 it says: “Unless you be converted and become like little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.” This means to become as a new baby in thoughts and outlook -- to start again. This is a fundamental truth that includes a warning that we have to do this if we wish to enter heaven.

Two lines of thought came to me as I considered these truths. The first was of Nicodemus. Even though he was a scholar and teacher, he had problems with this idea. He had to ask for clarification and was told: “That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of Spirit is spirit” Matthew 18:6. We have all been born of the flesh physically, and have grown, learned and matured, but not every one has been born of the Spirit yet. To be born of the Spirit is to have God as our father -- our spiritual parental figure. As our fleshly, physical parents have fed and nurtured us, taught and raised us, God also does so in our spirits so that we may grow and prosper and be part of His family.

The second thought came more from the phrase “become like little children”. What are the qualities that are found in a little child that are so important that we need to have them before we can enter heaven? I was thinking of all the young children I have known over the years and I realized they all seem to start out with certain childlike traits and then, depending on their environment, learn to do things in different ways. It is the childlike traits we need.

The most famous trait, of course, is faith -- the ability to believe without doubt. Is there anyone who has never seen a child jump, fully expecting their parent to catch them? This all encompassing faith is what many people would think of when they think of becoming as a little child -- and it is certainly necessary -- but I would like us to consider some other traits children have.

Have you ever watched a toddler walking into a room of strange children? One might come in quietly and look the other children over a bit while another may come in more boldly. But it is not very long before they become part of the group that are playing together. They don’t seem to have to say anything or do anything special; they just do it. In fact, if you really watch them, you realize it is what they are not doing that is important. They are not checking out clothes or nationality. They don’t ask for a family tree or consider what someone’s long lost relative may had done. They accept the others without making any judgments.

I remember while I was working at a day care centre, one morning one of the children got bitten by another. That afternoon when the mother came, the little girl was sitting on the floor playing with a little boy. They were laughing and happy. The mother saw the bite mark. She was understandably distressed and asked her daughter what happened. The little girl was quite casual about being 'bitten' and didn’t seem at all disturbed by it.

“Who?” the mother wanted to know. “Him,” the little girl said and laughed as she grabbed the little boy's hand while they ran off to play again. The injury had been forgotten; no grudge was being held. Forgiving and forgetting is something a toddler can do automatically. They don’t hold on to the past.

In contrast to 'childlike' is 'childish'. An unfortunate example of childish behaviour was enacted in a church I visited recently. The chairs behind the pulpit were rearranged, a temper tantrum was thrown, and “I’m not coming…blah blah blah.” The same church has more than a few toddlers. Did they care? Not from what I saw. 'Childlike' is not overly bothered by changes to tradition; everything is new for them. In the playroom, move the furniture around, paint it, and they may stop to look around but then start to explore and play. For the Christian, I have to ask, " Does it really matter where the chairs are?" To be as a little child is to come in and see the chairs have moved, but to get on with why you came: to worship and praise God.

To be “born again” and to “become as a little child” is to be as we were before we learned the behaviours of the flesh. It is these fleshly 'childish' behaviours that interfere with our relationship with God. To be “born again” and to “become as a little child” gives us the opportunity to grow with God as our spiritual parent and learn from Him what is acceptable and good. This attitude will grant us the right to gain heaven. As we come into this new year, may we seek to be born again and become as a little child, to have faith and acceptance, to forgive and forget -- not holding on to the past, but seeking God as our Spiritual Father.

by Glyn Savage

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