by Phil Lapp

There are many illustrations used today to describe conversion, and the effect it has in a person’s life. In Matthew 18:3-5 Jesus used a very difficult one. One that changes the person on the inside from being a man or woman to becoming like a child.

This is not only difficult, but impossible for us to make happen. As Nicodemus asked Jesus, “ How can a man be born when he is old?” John 3:4

In verse 4 Jesus gives us a secret to entering this NEW life. “Whoever humbles himself”… There is something about humility that changes, not only our perspectives and actions, it changes the inner man in the most profound way.

Our carnal nature is independent and selfish. As we grow older we become more established in our own ways, likes, dislikes, tastes, and habits. The longer we live in our own ways the more comfortable we become in these ways. This eventually leads us into bondage to our own selfish desires and becomes Sin to us.

So the epitome of “humility” is to humble our inner man to become as a little child. This is the entrance into the Kingdom of Heaven. Only Children can enter Heaven….hence we are called, “ the Children of God.” God has no strangers in Heaven; only those whom He has adopted into His family.

There are many characteristics of children that we can look at. But the one the Lord Jesus uses is “humility”. So it begs the question…

How is a little child express humility? How do you know when a child is humble?

The one character that defines a child as good or bad is always, “How well they submit to their parents.”

Is this not how we judge a child’s character? We look at how well they obey their parents and determine their behavior accordingly. This is their defining moment in their childhood life.

So it is that Jesus’ instruction to us included this definition of character, Humility. Humility is expressed in obedience. A person can profess Humility, but when this person is called into obedience their Humility or the lack thereof is openly seen, just as in the life of a little child. A child can seem very sweet and cute, but when they are called into obedience by their parents is when their sweetness is tested.

Humility expressed in submission to our Heavenly Father and each other ( 1 Peter 5:5 ) changes the character of the natural independent, selfish inner man. It breaks the power of our own will, through the suffering of obedience. If any man wants to be my disciple let him take up his cross daily, and follow me……Jesus said.

This is the entrance into the Kingdom of Heaven.

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