Why children are in the Kingdom of Heaven
Faith is bananas.
(Photo by Giorgio Trovato on Unsplash)
In the book Talk Yourself Into it! Robert A. Russell tells the story of 8 year-old Carolyn, as told to him by a live-in family nurse. They lived some distance from town, and one Saturday groceries were delivered. Carolyn and the nurse were putting them away when Carolyn asked if there were bananas. The nurse said no, but she would order some next week. Carolyn said she wanted, and was going to have, bananas that very day. The nurse said that's unlikely as it's rainy and the roads will be bad.
Later, the nurse saw Carolyn in her bedroom on her knees, praying with confidence that the bananas will come that day. At supper she reiterated her confidence in the arrival of bananas. She even rose from sleep at a quarter to ten to inquire if the bananas had come. All along the nurse tried to prepare her for disappointment.
Shortly before midnight, the family's pastor and his wife knocked at the door and the nurse answered. After they had gone to bed, the pastor explained, he woke up feeling there was a crisis and they came to check on them. The nurse said there was nothing wrong. Then the pastor's wife mentioned they had purchased some nice bananas that day and brought some. The nurse invited them in, told the story, and they awakened Carolyn who, unsurprised, thanked Jesus and enjoyed a banana before the day was over, just as she prayed.
This echoes what Jesus said in the Gospel of Matthew: "Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven."
According to one interpretation of the Bible, the kingdom of heaven (like hell) is not a place for the soul after death, but a state of consciousness. You can't enter that heavenly consciousness if you're looking for reasons why you can't even have bananas on the day you want them.
It's not about getting what you want, it's about your faith. I've been reading and listening to books and lectures by 20th century writers Walter C. Lanyon and Neville Goddard. One thing they keep going back to is that the inner belief can be in utter defiance of all sense perception, experience, and human understanding. The child says, "I will have this" and cares not how she will get it; the adult says "I won't have this," and can list multiple reasons why.
We don't know the mechanics of the universe, or of life, or of consciousness; we don't know how things come to be. Compared to Creation, the accomplishments of humanity through invention and social organization seem infinitesimal. The adult lacks faith, because when he wants something, he doubts whether some other adults will be able to provide it.
In contrast, the faith of a child in that force which created all good things, is a faith without worry or fear. A faith worthy of the Kingdom of Heaven.
James Leroy Wilson writes from Nebraska. Follow him on Facebook and Twitter. If you enjoy his articles, subscribe and exchange value for value. You may contact James for your writing, editing, and research needs: jamesleroywilson-at-gmail.com. Permission to reprint is granted with attribution.
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