Returning to Spiritual Innocence as Jesus Taught in Matthew 18

Becoming like a little child, as Jesus taught in Matthew 18:3, is a profound spiritual aspiration. This verse says, "unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven." Paul writes in Romans 8:28 that all things work together for good for those who love God, and it's in this context that we can understand the call to childlike humility and faith. This truth addresses the heart's deep longing for simplicity and trust, unencumbered by the complexities and cynicism that often accompany earthly experience and knowledge.

The sadness that comes from recognizing the impossibility of returning to a state of innocence is a common struggle, and it's essential to acknowledge that our experiences, both joyful and painful, shape us in ways that cannot be undone. However, the gospel offers a different kind of restoration, one that is not about reversing the effects of time and experience but about being remade in the image of Christ through faith and repentance.

In this sense, becoming like a little child is not about regaining a lost state of innocence but about embracing a posture of humility, dependence, and trust in God's goodness and sovereignty. This is a journey of the heart, one that requires acknowledging our limitations and weaknesses, and surrendering them to God's gracious work in our lives. As we walk in faith, we can find comfort in the promise that God is at work in us, conforming us to the image of Christ, and that our earthly experiences, though they may leave their mark, do not define our ultimate identity or destiny.