A Return to Innocence: How Adults Can Emulate Childlike Faith and Humility
The journey to spiritual purity and misguided Divine Providence is often likened to the allegorical journey of a child returning to the state of innocence before the societal indoctrination of right and wrong. As Matthew 18:3 so poignantly states, 'Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.'
Childhood as an Emblem of Innocence and Humility
Matthew's words encapsulate the idea that true spiritual growth involves a return to the pure, unadulterated state of a child's spirit. This does not mean embracing the naivety of childhood in a fixed context, but rather understanding the virtues of curiosity, trust, and joy that characterized their innocent ways. When we approach God with this kind of heart, we are reminded of the childhood virtues that lead to a deeper connection with our divine nature.
Spiritual Growth through Humility and Trust
True childlike trust is not the blind faith often seen as immature, but a firm and confident reliance on a Higher Power. This trust is perceived in humility, where we recognize our own limitations and fully surrender to the will of God. Trust means embracing a life where decisions are made with open hearts, without the rigid certainties that often thrive in adult skepticism.
Embracing Innocence through Godly Devotion
Devoting ourselves to God wholeheartedly can help adults shed the burdens of worldly wisdom and enter a state of childlike grace. Jesus emphasizes the importance of maintaining a childlike spirit when he speaks of welcoming children. He says, 'Let the little children come to me and do not stop them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these' (Matthew 18:10). This call to embrace childlike faith is a powerful reminder of the virtues we once held.
The Power of Innocence and Divine Providence
Taking this return to innocence seriously involves more than superficial mimicry of childhood behavior. It requires a deep spiritual transformation that aligns with Thomas Traherne's profound insight. Traherne writes, 'Only in a careless reliance upon Divine Providence are we to become little children; or in the feebleness and shortness of our anger, and simplicity of our passions, but in the peace and purity of all our soul. Which purity also is a deeper thing than is commonly apprehended. For we must disrobe infant-like and clear the powers of our soul free from the leaven of this world and disentangled from men’s conceits and customs.'
Clearing the Soul from Worldly Leaven
Shedding the worldly leaven weighs heavily on our spiritual journey. It involves letting go of the material desires and societal norms that confine us to a survivalist mentality. The childlike state of being is free from such constraints, enabling us to embrace a deeper, more pure joy and trust that only heavenly principles can bring.
Conclusion
The path to the kingdom of heaven is paved with the virtues of a child—innocence, humility, trust, and an unending joy. By welcoming this state of innocence back into our lives through God's grace, we can transcend the confines of our current existence and open ourselves to a deeper and more eternal form of life.
Keywords: Childlike Faith, Biblical Innocence, Spiritual Return