Babes shall rule over them

Our editorial lesson last week centered around children and, if you recall, we looked at several examples of their sayings and their ways. Today, I'd like to continue on with some more thoughts about children with a look at them from a little different viewpoint. Children are one of my favorite subjects for editorial purposes, probably because they are just about my favorite people on earth.

I'll even go out on a limb here and opine that they are probably your favorites too. Think about it, who doesn't look at babies and smile? Who doesn't enjoy getting hugs from little kids? At the risk of being evicted from the he-man club, I'll admit that I love babies and little kids and I'm not ashamed of it. Furthermore, with the exception of a few derange-minded people, I believe everyone else feels the same way about children.

Have you ever wondered why children have such an effect on us? There's probably several answers that could be given to that question, but I have several opinions as to why they do and in just a moment I'll share those opinions with you. But first, I'd like you to consider something else.

Have you ever thought about the use of the word "children" as we see it used in the Bible? When you think about it and take note, it's used all the time, isn't it? Here's a few examples: Christians are called "children of God" (Mt. 5:9). Or, they're referred to as "children of the Father in heaven" (Mt. 5:45). In Matt. 12:38 we find them called, "children of the Kingdom." Christians are also called "children of light" (Jn. 12:36), "children of the Highest" (Lk. 6:35) and "children of the Living God" (Rom. 9:26). Go back to the Old Testament and see what God called His chosen people - the "children of Israel" (Ex. 1).

The point I'm making here about the use of the word "children" in God's Word is that's it's not an accidental or incidental usage of the word. It's there because it is God's design for it to be there. And this brings us to my first opinion that I said earlier that we'd get back to. It's my humble opinion that the reason God used this word so much is simply because the qualities and characteristics of children are the same qualities and characteristics of those faithful and obedient to His Son and His Gospel.

Well, you might ask, what are the qualities and characteristics of children that would relate to Christ and to God and His usage of the word? The Q's and C's that I see are that children have purity of heart. They're guileless, if you will. Babies aren't born, they don't come into life on earth, with any preconceived hatreds or prejudices. These are things that are learned. That have to be acquired. Children come to us innocent. Their character, their souls are pure and clean. Could this have been what Christ meant when He said, "...of such is the Kingdom of heaven?"

Now, on to my second opinion and this is directed towards why babies and children have the effect on us that they do. When we look at that pure and innocent little baby/child, we're looking at someone who has yet to be covered with the earthly layers of fear, distrust, prejudice and all the other layers that we adults get coated with. I like to think that when a little baby looks at us and smiles, perhaps it's that they just might be seeing through those "grown-up" layers and seeing the purity that we once had. I know that's pretty deep thinking, but still I'd like to think that's the case.

There's a passage in Isaiah regarding children that I found interesting. And I think that all of us that have kids, have had kids or know someone who has kids, can attest to in sort of a humorous vein. In Isa. 3:4 we find this little phrase; ".... and babes shall rule over them." I ask you, have you ever seen a house anywhere having a baby in it where that baby didn't "rule?" I mean, that baby determines when they go to bed, when they get up, where they go and how they go. Just about everything about that household is determined by the baby. And you know what else? It doesn't take long for that baby to realize who the "ruler" is either.

Here's another of my thoughts and opinions: remember in Ex. 23 when Moses wanted to "see" God and was told that no one "can see God and live?" Don't you think that a lot of people would like to see God? Wouldn't you like to see God? I would. No, we can't see Him face to face, but you know what? We can see the "essence" of God. We can see the "essence" of God by two ways and here's how.

First, by looking at Jesus because He told His disciples in John 14:9 "he that hath seen me hath seen the Father." Think about this - Jesus was just like a little baby His whole life. He never lost His purity nor His innocence and was the only person on this earth to never lose those qualities. (1Pet. 2:22) Christ was the "essence" of God throughout His whole time here on earth and we can certainly see that.

And that takes us to the second way of "seeing God." Keeping in mind the 1^st way, we can see God by looking at the nearest thing to God we have now on earth - a baby. A little child. I say that based upon something Solomon tells us in Eccl. 12:7. It's there that we find out that our souls come from God thus, a baby's soul is the closest thing to God's "essence" we have to look at on earth. There's some fitting words to this thought I'd like to share with you and you might be surprised by who said them. "Children are the most wholesome part of the race, the sweetest, for they are freshest from the hand of God." (Pres. Herbert Hoover)

I'm going to close today's editorial with one more little story involving children that speaks to our thoughts regarding God and children. Remember what David said, (".... out of the mouths of babes..." Psa. 8:2) as you read this:

A couple had just had a baby boy and were already the parents of a four year old girl. Shortly after he was brought home, the little girl began asking if she could be alone with the baby. Well, the parents were somewhat concerned, as most would be, about the daughter feeling a little jealous, might shake him or hit him or something like that. But, she had shown no signs of jealousy and had treated the baby with only kindness and love. She kept asking to be left alone with the baby and finally the parents decided that they would allow it.

When they told her it was alright, she very happily went to the baby's room and after going in, closed the door almost all the way, but left it open just a crack. The parents tiptoed to the door and peeked in through the crack and listened. They saw the little girl go up to the baby, put her face near the baby's head and said, "Baby, tell me what God feels like. I'm starting to forget."

I think we can all learn a lot from that little girl. We should help each other "see God" and remember Him, lest we forget.

Ron Covey