Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 18:3 NIV).

In the book of Matthew chapter 18, the disciples of Jesus asked Him, “Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” In response, Jesus called a little child, placed him in the midst of them and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me” (Matthew 18:3-5 NKJV).

For us to enter the kingdom of heaven, we must be born anew. We must first repent of our sins, forsake them, humble ourselves before God and become like little children.  Little children are very simplistic in their faith. They are truly innocent, blameless, humble, sincere, teachable, trusting and without self-seeking ambitions.  They quickly forgive each other after a conflict, put their differences behind them and continue to play together as if nothing had ever happened.  They do not keep malice with one another.  The kingdom of heaven belongs to such little ones and to those of us who are willing to humble ourselves like these little children and submit to the will of God.  Jesus taught His disciples, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 19:14 NKJV).

Little children will get into heaven a lot faster than most grownups because they readily believe in Jesus and trust Him with all their hearts. My nine-year-old daughter, Ashley, has had visions of Jesus and of heaven when she was between the ages of four and six.  She told me recently that in one of her visits to heaven in a vision, Jesus gave her and her sister, who died when she was only seven months old, each a perfectly white garment to dress in.  She said that Jesus was also dressed in a long flowing white robe and that He told them that even if they spill anything on their garments while playing, they will still be white.  In the book of Revelation, Jesus said in His letters to the churches, “He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels” (Revelation 3:5 NKJV). Ashley and her sister were also given a very large room with both their names written on the outside above the door.  In my daughter’s own words, “The room was larger than our entire house!”

Ashley told me that she saw a lot of very huge mansions in heaven and that the streets were made of gold and very shiny. Jesus told us in John 14:2 that there are many mansions in His Father’s house.  In the book of Revelation chapter 21 John recorded that he saw the New Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God and that the street of the city was of gold, as pure as transparent glass.

Based on what Ashley told me, Jesus has guaranteed her and her sister a home in heaven. Their eternal home in heaven is secure because the kingdom of heaven is made up of such little ones.  Ashley is very confident that she has a home in heaven and that someday she will go there to be with Jesus for all eternity.  She communicated this to me on several occasions, and during Bible Study with a group of her friends one Sunday afternoon she said this openly to everyone.  If we humble ourselves and become like these little children, our eternal home in heaven will be secure also.

In today’s world, people are constantly seeking after elevated positions because they want to be recognized as great. They like to draw attention to themselves by making sure that everyone knows what their contributions to their workplace or to society are.  They are careful to make sure that someone else does not get credit for something that they did.  In the kingdom of God however, the greatest individuals are those who humble themselves like little children and esteem others above themselves.  They do not try to draw attention to themselves and they do not seek vain glory.  Instead, they humbly serve God through ministering to the needs of others.  They do not set their minds on high things but associate with the humble.   Jesus, God’s Son, is greater than all yet He did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for all. The Bible tells us that God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble (James 4:6). Humble yourselves therefore in the sight of God, and He will lift you up (James 4:10).

Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy,  fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.  Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others (Philippians 2:1-4 NKJV).