Will my Child be in Heaven?

The Bible leaves no doubt as to where the little ones are after death. King David gives us the most emphatic statement in the Old Testament as to the abode of children after they die. He said, when his own little son died, "I shall go to him but he shall not return to me"  (II Samuel 12:23). Nothing could be more comforting and assuring than these words which through him were inspired by God Himself.

For further teaching on the above questions, we could go to no one better than the Son of God Himself. Hear Him rebuke His own disciples when they would have driven the children away from Him. In Mark 10: 14-15 He tells them, "Suffer the little children to come unto me and forbid them not; for of such is the Kingdom of God." The Lord Jesus also unfolded His Father's heart when He said, "It is not the will of your Father which is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish (Matthew 18:14).

However, let us follow the words of the Lord Jesus as He enlarges upon the subject in Matthew 18:1-14 and see how heaven is peopled like little children. In verse 2 our Lord takes up a little child and places him in the midst of His disciples saying, "Except ye be converted and become as little children ye shall not enter into the Kingdom of Heaven."

First our Lord speaks of the humbleness of a little child. The first step in being converted to God is to humble ones self and take the place of a lost sinner, acknowledging before God he deserved nothing but judgment because of his sin and then accept the sinner's Savior, the Lord Jesus, Who died for him upon the Cross.

The Lord Jesus said, "For I am not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance" (Matthew 9:13). God in His Word has said, "If any say I have sinned, and perverted that which was right . . . I have found a ransom" (Job 33:24, 27).

The next step in being converted to God is to acknowledge the fact that there is not one thing he can do to merit the salvation of God.

"Not of works lest any man should boast" (Eph. 2:9). In this way he is like a little child. A little child is the most helpless of anything born. He depends on everything being done for him. This is one of the lessons everyone has to learn if they are going to be converted and enter into the Kingdom of God. He must take God's free gift of salvation through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ alone. Salvation is the gift of God and cannot be obtained any other way (Romans 4:5).

In Psalm 127:3 we read, "Children are an heritage of the Lord." They belong to God by creation. They belong to God by redemption. It is interesting to notice when our Lord, in Luke 19, speaking to Zaccheus about salvation said, "The Son of man is come to seek and to save that which is lost." When He speaks of children in Matthew 18:11, he drops the word SEEK and says, "For the Son of man is come to SAVE that which is lost."

Children are sinners by nature but, although they do practice sin, God does not charge them with sin until they reach the years of responsibility when He then holds them accountable for their decisions.  Until that time the death of Christ and the blood that He shed on the Cross is their salvation. God has not told us in His Word how old a child is when he reaches the age of responsibility, but Scripture might indicate it to be 10 or 12 years of age.

In conclusion we see God's requirements for salvation in the illustration of a little child - humbleness, helplessness, and innocence.

Friend, don't rely on good works, church membership, tithing, etc., to merit salvation, God says, "Except ye be converted and become as little children . . ." The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all unrighteousness. If you haven't already, why not accept Him right now and be made fit for heaven.

Dear parents, you may be sure of meeting that young child again in glory only if you have accepted his Savior as yours. The circle will then again be complete. Your tears will be wiped away. Joy will fill your heart in the glory above at being reunited with your little one.

- W. G. McCartney