First you learn to use the bathroom by yourself. Then you start brushing your own teeth. You buckle your own seatbelt, you dress yourself, you tie your own shoes. Before long, you’re opening up a checking account, changing the oil in your car, signing a lease and paying your bills. I still remember the day my mom taught me how to use the washing machine by myself. I can remember reminiscing back over all the years of not having to wash my own clothes and thinking, “Oh well. That was nice while it lasted.” It’s fun to grow up and to become more capable, but at the same time, there’s something hard about saying goodbye to the innocence of childhood and the freedom of not being responsible. It is right and good for people to grow up and mature and become more accountable for the moving parts of their lives; and yet, in the spiritual realm, there are ways in which we are never supposed to really ‘grow up.’ One time, Jesus’ disciples asked him “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” and to their shock, He didn’t tell any Bible stories from the Old Testament about Moses or David or even Daniel or Job. The disciples probably expected that kind of speech and hoped in their heart of hearts that they could one day be like one of those old heroes. Instead, Jesus held a little child in His arms and said, “See this child? Unless you change and become like a child, you can’t even get in.” Children are helpless, irresponsible and totally dependent. Jesus doesn’t want you to ever grow out of being like that. You don’t ever have to really grow up.
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