The longer I live, the more convinced I am that God wants us to receive the words of the Bible with the faith of a child. In fact, it is becoming increasingly necessary for us to do so because deception is so rampant.
Jesus said that childlike faith is the only way to know God.
At that time Jesus answered and said, “I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes. 26 Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight. Matthew 11:25–26 (NKJV)
Wisdom and prudence are godly characteristics. Why would God hide truth from the wise and prudent, and why would Jesus give thanks for his doing so? This may seem rather confusing unless we realize he spoke of those who are wise in their own eyes but lack the humility of a child.
Children simply believe what we tell them, unless we have lied to them in the past.
But God never lies; so, there is no reason for us not to believe his words.
“God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent; Has He said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good? Numbers 23:19 (NASB95)
Why is it then that we sometimes assume that God does not mean what he said? Do we really think he sometimes says something that he does not expect wise and intelligent people to believe? Apparently we often do. Is this wisdom on our part or unbelief?
As adults, we hate when someone deceives us, especially when money is involved. We never want to be anybody’s fool. Since we live in a world full of deception, we learn to sift through information
coming our way to try to separate what is true from what is not. We do our best to protect ourselves from human trickery, which is good and necessary, but the unfortunate fallout is that we may learn to approach the Scriptures that way, too, oddly thinking that God may be trying to fool us, too.
One of the things that God highly values is when we simply believe what he says and act upon it. In other words, we trust that he is not trying to deceive us.
And it is impossible to please God without faith... Hebrews 11:6 (NLT)
Such simple faith was something Abraham possessed. Paul wrote about him.
In hope against hope he believed, so that he might become a father of many nations according to that which had been spoken, “SO SHALL YOUR DESCENDANTS BE.” 19 Without becoming weak in faith he contemplated his own body, now as good as dead since he was about a hundred years old, and the deadness of Sarah’s womb; 20 yet, with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God, 21 and being fully assured that what God had promised, He was able also to perform. 22 Therefore IT WAS ALSO CREDITED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS. Romans 4:18–22 (NASB95)
God asked this man to simply believe that he would give him a son, in spite of the fact that he and Sarah were past the age to have children. It was scientifically impossible for Sarah to conceive at her age. For a long time Abraham clung to God’s promise, waiting patiently for it to come to pass, but eventually he grew weary and reasoned that God expect him to do something to make this promise happen. Resorting to human reason produced an Ishmael. Simple faith received an Isaac, the child of promise.
During the long years of waiting, Abraham’s faith had nothing to lean upon except God’s promise and character. That should be enough for us, too.
God named him “father of a multitude” when he was childless. People must have thought he was an utter fool until Isaac was born.
God does not mind placing his people in the position of being thought foolish or being misunderstood as a test of our loyalty to him.
Being willing to embrace the scorn and contradiction of unbelievers is part of the cost of having childlike faith. It is a price we are expected to pay as Christ’s disciples. I wonder if we have ever considered the pain God may feel when we scorn placing our trust in him?
Historians say the Age of Reason extended from the late 17th century through the 18th. This period profoundly influenced the world and continues to do so. The main characteristics of this era are summarized below.
- Primacy of reason and empiricism — Knowledge derived from observation, experimentation, and rational analysis, rather than faith or authority.
- Skepticism toward tradition — Questioning religious dogma, superstition, absolute monarchy, and inherited privileges.
- Ideals of liberty, equality, and progress — Advocacy for individual rights, tolerance, fraternity, constitutional government, and separation of church and state.
- Optimism about human potential — Belief in education, science, and reform to create a better society.
- Secularism and deism — Many favored a non-interventionist God or natural religion over organized doctrine.
During this age, trust in human reason skyrocketed, often at the expense of faith in God and the Bible. Although, elevating reason in this way seemed like something new, the truth is that it was as old as Eden. The serpent convinced Eve that his words were more reasonable than God’s. The Lord gave us the ability to reason, but it is only beneficial when it is submitted to God and his Word.
God has ordained that certain important matters elude our power of reason and must be apprehended spiritually with the faith of a child.
Paul wrote about this.
But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 1 Corinthians 2:14 (NKJV)
We adults have been taught from childhood to lean upon our wits. As a consequence, many of us also learned how to avoid obeying God’s Word when it seems unreasonable to us, just as Eve did. We think it is okay to manipulate the words of the Bible to suit us.
The Pharisees knew the Bible better than anyone. As part of their education, they memorized the first five books of the Old Testament. Not surprisingly, they often looked down on others who had less knowledge. Tragically, however, their great knowledge did not translate into great faith. They failed to recognize their Messiah when he stood in front of them!
If our study and knowledge of the Bible does not produce childlike faith, we have wasted our time and sentenced ourselves to a greater judgment (James 3:1). The more we know, the greater our responsibility.
Jesus condemned the Pharisees for manipulating God’s Word to make it say something different from what God intended.
And He said to them, “Rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written: ‘THIS PEOPLE HONORS ME WITH THEIR LIPS, BUT THEIR HEART IS FAR AWAY FROM ME. 7 ‘BUT IN VAIN DO THEY WORSHIP ME, TEACHING AS DOCTRINES THE PRECEPTS OF MEN.’ 8 “Neglecting the commandment of God, you hold to the tradition of men.” Mark 7:6–8 (NASB95)
I believe we can define ungodly traditions of men as any interpretation of the Bible that nullifies or twists its intended meaning.
Before we come down too hard on the Pharisees, we need to understand that this is a very human tendency going back to the garden. We probably all do it to some degree or another. It is humbling for us to realize this. May we all have the faith of a child and simply believe what God has said. In a world full of deception, this is our firm anchor.
Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path. Psalm 119:105 (NASB95
