Tuesday, February 20, 2007

The New Jerusalem

Jesus loves me! This I know, For the Bible tells me so.” Those experienced in early childhood development are aware that children are essentially incapable of abstract thought. Yet “Jesus called a child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, and said: Verily I say unto you: Except ye turn, and become as children, ye cannot enter into the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:2-3). A child, like this one, couldn’t understand Augustine’s spiritualization of the New Jerusalem in his City of God. But he could comprehend a city coming down out of heaven from God with a wall great and high with twelve gates, each a pearl, and streets of pure gold. He could remember a place where there shall be no night and the only people, those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life. Such a child could understand virtually anything in the Word because he understands it the only way he can: LITERALLY. And I know that Jesus in His love for children and for those who must become as children planned it that way: “For the Bible tells me so.” And Matthew continues: “but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a heavy millstone hung around his neck, and to be drowned in the depth of the sea” (Matthew 18:6).

There is a story of a six-year old girl who had just a simple faith in the Lord Jesus. She was working like a beaver cleaning up her room. A guest in the home came in and complimented her by saying, “My! Why do you have your room all so spick and span?” “Oh,” said the little girl, “I want to get everything in order, because Jesus may come today” (ON THESE TRUTHS WE STAND: The Doctrinal Statement of THE VALLEY CHURCH).15
1Paul E. Steele, ON THESE TRUTHS WE STAND: The Doctrinal Statement of THE VALLEY CHURCH, (Published by The Valley Church, Cupertino, California, 1978).
15Steele Op. cit., p. 196.

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