A few years ago, I was directing a couple plays at our church. Now, these were not large productions. They were just little productions out of the children’s Sunday school group. One was a puppet show and another was a actual staged production. For the puppet show, I had asked the kids which Bible story they liked the most and they said the story of Noah’s ark. Now we all know this story, even if we have not read the Bible in many, many years. We also may remember other cute stories like David and Goliath, Jonah being swallowed by the whale, the Christmas story, and others. As we get older, we may scoff at these stories as our understanding of the world becomes more “sophisticated” and we understand that nature is subject to laws. Now I believe that the Lord has and occasionally does send angels to give us messages and that He has the power to give us the strength to defeat actual giants and that God raised Jesus and has raised others as well. I also believe that these same cute stories can teach the most embittered and cynical adults how to live as well.

For example, take Noah. He teaches us that we need to be obedient to the call of the Lord in our lives, knowing that we may not understand why we are called to do such and such, just as he was called to do. “Lord you tell me to have faith in this situation, but that does not make sense, there is no hope!” You may have heard yourself say.  Taking the example of David, we need to take God at His word and take on the large challenges of life in the name of the Lord. “Lord I cannot succeed in this job/task/responsibility by myself!” You may have heard yourself say.  We need to realize that sin has consequences and that when life is crazy and tumultuous it maybe because we are running in the opposite direction than God wants us to go.  “God, I am scared and unworthy to challenge him to know you better!” You may have heard yourself say. These stories have meaning for us as adults, not just as children. We, as adults need to learn the deeper truths and re-learn the basic truths in these stories.

Maybe that is why Jesus said that in Him, we must approach life as children, knowing that the cute stories of our childhood do not stop being real because we are adults and our problems have become “bigger”. Challenge Him by using his Word from these stories!

Mark 10: 13-16  And they were bringing children to him that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them. But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them.

——————————————-W.