No. 51 Shortcut to Heaven

Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever becomes humble like this child is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me. Matthew 18:2-5; Mark 9:37, Luke 9:48

“If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them if a large millstone were hung around their neck and they were thrown into the sea.” Mark 9:42

I rounded the bend and low and behold right smack in front of me was the biggest most beautiful Mark I had ever seen. This Mark glowed and pulsated like a rainbow’s heartbeat. Out of it faint melodic peels of laughter and singing could be heard. Giggles spewed forth like spring rain on dry thirsty earth. Oh the life that radiated from this Mark!

This is not a quiet regal Mark sitting on a mountain such as, “Love Your Enemy” a high target longing to be reached; this is a boisterous lively Mark. Woven through the life of it I heard rivers of song flowing. Numbed by its beauty I stared.

I turned my head and looked Jesus in the eye; He smiled at me and nodded as if to say, “Yes, it’s true.” I knew instantly what He meant. When I imagine Jesus on Mount Tabor so high and luminous, and when I see Him walking on water and raising the girl and Lazarus from the dead, and healing lepers, I become so discouraged. How could I ever, in a million years, fully integrate with the Mark? I fast and I pray, and I squeeze my eyes tight and hold my breath for five minutes straight and still I can’t be like Jesus no matter how much I want to.

But here I look and see many gleeful, pure and simple child-Christs and they call me into them to make me joyful also, and loving, inquisitive, and humble enough to trust the Lord without question, just as children trust me.

Innocent children salt this world with living Marks; gather them, treasure them, protect them and become like them, for they are the shortcut to heaven.