Through the Eyes of a Child

Jared Leys

                First to the youth in the faith, then to the adults in the faith, and then to anyone else remaining.  The days have grown dark and love has grown cold.  The fire that is salvation seems to burn dimly at the mystery that no longer holds our empathy.  Instead, we have apathy.  We don’t care if the world is turned upside down, not ever understanding what is right.  The world doesn’t care, and we don’t care that the world doesn’t care.  Because it will all end tomorrow; it will end on a day like this one.  But if that is so, then our apathy is our death.  However, there is still hope in our Father, because he does not call us his children in vain.

                Paul tells us that as we grow, we put childish ways behind us (1Cor. 13:11).  And yet as sons and daughters of our Father Yahweh, we are not yet spiritually grown.  In our flesh, we have grown and learned to do what is right by the ways of the world.  Yet in spirit, we remain almost as infants, though we do need to grow up.

                So then how shall we grow up in spirit?  First, we must realize and understand that we are children.  And not only are we children at first, but even infants in spirit.  And because of this the disciple Peter wrote about our first step in growth.  He tells us to give up wickedness, as newborn babes, and long for spiritual milk that is without guile (1Pe. 2:1-2).  And this milk, by which we may grow unto salvation, is not hard.  In fact, it has already been given to most of us, even when we were young in flesh.  Paul advises Timothy about this very thing when he writes, “But as for you, continue in what you have learned and become convinced of, because you know those from whom you have learned it, and how from infancy, you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation” (2Ti. 3:14-15, NIV).  For most of us, we should already have this milk, and it should be easy to digest, so that we may be ready to move on to solid food.  But first, we need to be ready to see this solid food, and we have to be prepared for what it means.

                Do you remember what it is like to be a little kid?  Do you recall that sense of wonder with which you saw the world and everything in it?  Even food was a mystery, and it tasted so much better.  Everything about life was wonderful and new, and it was love just because it was alive.  Likewise should be our growth in spirit.  Remember to burn at the mysteries of our Father, and find the spiritual food he gives to be tasty and new, even if you have eaten if before.  And from there, find as much spiritual food as you can, learning what tastes good and is straight from our Father’s hand.  If it does not taste good, and yet it is surely from our Father, swallow and grow, and learn why it is good for you.  If it does not taste good, and you cannot see how it is from our Father, spit it out.  But always, no matter what the circumstances, look as a child at the world spinning around you.  We are growing up, and if we become apathetic, we will fail to learn what is necessary to become adults.