Childlike Friendship with God

 Many children have their own fantasy world. They may have a secret place or an imaginary friend. Psychologists have researched this phenomenon and found that young children with an imaginary friend are mentally okay.

Some strict Christians might be afraid that children are being deceived by evil spirits. I heard a testimony from a woman whose family was deeply involved in witchcraft. From an early age she was tormented by demons.

On the other hand, Jesus said that children have a guardian angel.

Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” Lk 18:17 NIV

There are some traditional Catholics and Calvinists who place extreme emphasis on the doctrine of original sin.

There are severely wounded people whose parents or teachers cruelly condemned them and brought them up with harsh punishments. Their childlike nature was misunderstood as sin.

Of course it is true that none of us, like Jesus, was born without sin, but we are not only born with evil inclinations, but also with good ones.
 
So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. Gen 1:27 NIV

This likeness to God in us was distorted and twisted by the Fall, but not completely erased. Does this optimistic idea only come from humanism? No, from the Bible.

With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. Jas 3:9 NIV

If we understand that children not only have evil inclinations, but also heavenly qualities, we will not only better understand our humanity, but also God himself.

I am sure that even as an infant Jesus had wonderful spontaneous conversations with his Heavenly Father and also with the Holy Spirit.

Why should we not expect to enjoy such an interactive relationship with God?

Some will see this idea as dangerously presumptuous, but it is demonstrably biblical.

The LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend. Then Moses would return to the camp .. Ex 33:11 NIV

The friendship of the LORD is for those who fear him, and he makes his covenant known to them. Ps 25:14 NRSV

God wants you to get to know him intimately, to have personal conversations with him like Jesus and Moses. If we trust God like little children, we can learn to do this.

The Bible is God's word. Thank God we have God's written revelation.

But when you raise a child, are you just giving him a book? A child needs not only truth and wisdom, but also lively spontaneous communication with his parents. It is wonderful when children also communicate with God like this.