Answers

By   •   November 22, 2011   •   Topics: ,

Q:

What did Jesus mean when He said we have to become like a little child if we're going to follow Him? I'm a college professor and I don't like to think that I have to commit intellectual suicide if I become a Christian.


A:

Some of the most brilliant men and women the world has ever known were also followers of Christ, and it would be wrong for you to think you’d be committing intellectual suicide if you gave your life to Him!

In fact, the opposite would be the case, because when we come to Christ, God calls us to love Him with our whole being — including our minds. Jesus summarized God’s will for us with these words: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’ and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself'” (Luke 10:27). All authentic truth comes from God, and all eternity won’t be enough for us to explore its full riches.

Jesus’ words about our need to become like little children are important, however. (You can find them in Mark 10:15.) One of the main reasons people reject Jesus is pride; they believe they don’t need Him and can make it through life on their own. But only when we renounce our pride and come to Him with the humility and trust of a child can we be saved.

Don’t let your pride, or anything else, keep you from Christ. Instead, humble yourself before Him, and trust your life completely to Him. Then commit all you are and all you have into His hands, for He alone is “the way and the truth and the life” (John 14:6).