What About the Children - Part 2

Christian Bible is clear that heaven is only for those who have given their lives to Christ.

One of the babies and young children thrown 30.00 more offers no assurances from God through that heaven is certainly to those who proselyte the so-called age of accountability, with faith encouraging conclusion of his message. What about the children know I was not in the ministry very long before I was confronted with this issue. I was young intern in the church in Haddon Heights, New Jersey just fresh out of seminary. My pastor who was my leader took a vacation and left me in charge and he been gone but two days and we had a very tragic infant death in our congregation and I was there to take care of it. I must confess I felt so inadequate. I had never had any experience in dealing with this. But God was so good and able me and help me to understand what I been teaching yesterday and today and I know that this is the word of God. This is God helping us understand what happens and when we study the Scripture and find these answers. They are so so important and tomorrow around Turning Point were going to talk about being tough-minded about heaven, and will finish out the series on Thursday with the second half of that message but for right now let's get back and conclude our discussion. What about children.

Here are some passages in the Gospels that express compassion of Jesus Christ the Savior for children to notice someone emphasize this as I read them. How many times in these passages we read the word or the phrase children or little children, not children only but little children Matthew 1913 and 14. Then little children were brought to him that he might put his hands on them and pray that the disciples would. But Jesus said, let the little children come to me and do not forbid them for of such is the kingdom of heaven. Mark 1013 and 14 and they brought little children to him that he might touch them, but the disciples rebuked those who brought them but when Jesus saw he was greatly displeased and said to them, let the little children come to me and do not forbid them for of such is the kingdom of God.

Luke 1815 through 16.

Then they also brought infants to him that he might touch them. Notice the word is changed from little children. In this text. Now the word is a different word for children and it means infants little babies and they also brought infants to him that he might touch them. And when the disciples thought they would puke them. But Jesus called them to him and said, let the little children come to me and do not forbid them for of such is the kingdom of God.

Are you getting the picture for the love that Jesus has for children at that time the disciples came to Jesus saying is greatest in the kingdom of heaven and Jesus called a little child to him and set him in the midst of them and said assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children 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 a little child like this in my name receives me. I want you to notice this next phrase. Even so, it is not the will of your father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish. Now if I didn't have anything else in all the Bible but that one phrase I be okay. It is not the will of your father in heaven that one of these little ones should perish, but you have's strong evidence a strong, unambiguous statement of the Savior. He is not willing that one of these little ones should perish, but that was all I had I been my hope on that alone. Jesus has compassion children and infants and is not willing that even one of them should perish. Perhaps this is a good place for me to answer the question concerning the unborn babies that are never born because of miscarriages or abortions. I remember how important that was to Don and I because before we had our four children. We lost a little baby in a miscarriage that might seem.

You know not really important to people who never been through it, but if you've ever been through that you know that is a very very very sad situation.

We had not had any children.

We been praying for children they look like God and answer the prayer and then five months into the pregnancy.

We lost the baby, and we laid on the bed and cried. I don't need to apologize for that. What happens to those little ones we've talked about that that we have a child in heaven that we've never met, and that one day according to the Scripture going to see baby and women to know that child is not true to say we only have four children. We have five.

One of those already in heaven. I believe is due who accept the authority of God's word that a child is a person from the moment of conception, since that is true, since that is true, then all these unborn one for what reasons they have been unborn will be taken by the father to heaven. These principles apply to those who in days past, perhaps in weakness are in fear or in unbelief allowed abortion. There is no one I know who is more sensitive to this issue than a woman who has had an abortion. I want to say to all of you gals if that's happened to you. God has forgiven you. That is not the unpardonable sin. God has forgiven you. And he's even gone beyond that he is so gracious to you that one day that little one that was aborted. You will have in your arms. These principles also apply to those who, while they are mature physically have never matured mentally or emotionally, but maybe in the body of a mature person but the mind has been impaired to such an extent that they have a mind of a child as far as heaven is concerned they are children and they would be taken to heaven when they die when off the road. I cannot imagine the same Savior who blessed little babies inside of such is the kingdom of heaven secretly intending to deny them that mercy. So I am absolutely certain from these first three points the character of God. The condition of salvation and the compassion of the Savior that little babies who died before they're old enough to understand the gospel go to heaven but that is not the most powerful reason there is an incident in the life of David that is fundamental to the question we are answering today 12 chapter of second Samuel records the events that happened in the life of David immediately after he was confronted by the prophet Nathan know I have to not assume that everybody knows the Old Testament, so let me just tell you briefly the story David committed adultery with Bathsheba. You all know that you know that in the process. He also had Bathsheba's husband, Uriah the Hittite killed and for a whole year. David hit this in his heart. Nobody knew it but him and one day Almighty God came to Nathan his profit and he said Nathan I have an assignment for you are now to go and confront David. I've often thought how awful it would've been to be Nathan, you want me to go confront the king yes so Nathan goes and he confronts David concerning his adultery and the murder of Uriah and among other things. Nathan told David the child that he and Bathsheba had brought into the world would be taken away in death.

I want you to pick up with me your reading of this text in second Samuel chapter 12 in verse 13. However, because of this deed you have given great occasion to the enemies of the Lord, to blaspheme the child who is born to you shall surely die. Then Nathan departed to his house and the Lord struck the child that Uriah's wife brought to David and it became ill. David therefore pleaded with God for the child and David fasted and went in and laid all night on the ground so the elders of his house arose and went to him to raise him up from the ground, but he would not nor did he eat food with them. Then on the seventh day it came to pass that the child died and the servants of David were afraid to tell him that the child was dead, for they said. Indeed, while the child was alive. We spoke to him and he would not heed our voice.

How can we tell him that the child is dead he may do some harm when David saw that his servants were whispering, he perceived that the child was dead. Therefore David said to his servants is the child then and they said his dad so they would arose from the ground, washed and anointed himself and changed his clothes and went into the house of the Lord and worshiped. And he went to his own house and when he requested they set before him, and he ate. Then his servants said to him, what is this that you have done. David fasted and wept for the child while he was alive when the child died, Rosen you ate food and David said, listen to this. While the child was alive, I fasted and wept for. I said who can tell whether the Lord will be gracious to me that the child may live, but now he is dead. Why should I fast can I bring him back again.

I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me what was David's confidence in that moment that he would see that child again.

He said I can bring the child back but I will go to the child.

Some people say well what David is talking about here is that just as the child went to the grave. David would go to the grave. But wait a minute.

It was this thought of a reunion with this child but chair David but where did he think this reunion would be going to be in the grave or in hell in heaven believe that he himself would go to heaven after death and consequently meant to express the belief that this child had gone on before him for that blessed place and the idea of meeting his child in the unconscious grave had no rationally emotional comfort for him. He could not have thought of any good thoughts. If he thought the child was in hell no he said I am encouraged. I want to go to that child, so much so that he quit weeping and fasting he went in and dressed himself when he came out and met the people. David knew something that we now know that when little children die before they understand the gospel. They go straight to heaven. And no matter what anybody says the tenor of the word of God. The character of God. The consequences of believing all of that bring together this truth that children who die before they can understand the gospel go to heaven now let me answer a couple of questions that are always a part of this discussion. What about the age of accountability.

We say that children are protected until the age of accountability. People are always asking me the question what is the age of accountability.

They want chronological number where the age of accountability is different as the ability of your children to comprehend how many of you have more than two children, you would say that your children all developmentally along the same line perfectly so that they understood things at the same age anybody. I don't think so. Not even twins all come along a different path so the age of accountability is a different age chronologically for each child.

It simply means a time when children can understand the gospel are little children innocent until they reach a certain age know they are not innocent in the sense of their cinder centers. They are covered by the blood until I can understand that, and then they become responsible. The Bible is very clear that we are born in iniquity and shaped in iniquity were born with the sin nature. Age is a child when he becomes responsible for his relationship with God.

Isaiah refers to such a time that we mentioned earlier in Isaiah 716, and a lot of the back of that passage again for before the child shall know to refuse the evil and choose the good, important thing to remember is that the Bible does not make any reference at all to an age of accountability. There is a time in the life of every child when they are able to understand God's love when they comprehend what it means to be a sinner and for some children that knowledge comes at a very early age and for some it may take more time.

The age of accountability is not a chronological resume.

It is a reckoning of spiritual understanding.

So we just pause here for a moment and say to parents. How do I know when that time comes. If you raise your children in the context of the gospel. They will ask you the questions almost without exception, that happens you get into a conversation become the church, they hear the gospel.

I grew up in a pastor's home, I went to church every Sunday. I heard my dad gospel and preaching. Oftentimes I saw people come forward and I would go home and asked my father about that. We have this discussion.

I think it's also very fair for me to say that often in Christian families. There are what we might call pre-conversion experiences where children have a sensitivity to the Lord and they make pray the prayer but later on realize that there was more that they needed to understand and so we pray the prayer again. You should never ever feel badly about that. I know that happened in my life to three times I was actually baptized twice because the first time I was baptized as a little child and I realize later as I grew up that I didn't really understand the gospel at that time you want to be sure that I have this in the right sequence so I was baptized once I knew what the gospel is all about mowing the age of accountability happens when kids and Sunday school recent vacation Bible school. Somebody presents the gospel and they know that they need to be saved and so share the gospel with them. What a privilege it is apparent to leave their child to the Lord.

Every one of our children's had a different experience.

All have come to the age of understanding in a different time numerous parents need to be sensitive to that and that's one of the reasons why we dedicate parents when we have our dedication services. We don't dedicate children we really dedicate the parents of you may ask them do you agree that you will ruin your children in such a way that at the earliest possible age they will hear and understand and receive the gospel.

That's what your hope is that you help them understand what you bring them to an understanding of and at a certain age you realize that they do understand and then they receive Christ. People asked me when should a child be baptized only when they can understand the gospel and explain it when they can share with you how they know their question and they should be baptized in the same should probably be true of communion reason I'm telling you that is this I want to give you all great comfort about children die before the age of accountability, but I don't want you to go to sleep on the importance of your children coming to know Christ when they do reach the age of accountability.

There is no guarantee that when a child reaches the age of accountability there just automatically go to become a Christian. If you don't live in such a way and honor the world in such a way and share the gospel in such a way that they will understand and especially do I want to say this to dance if you want your son to be a Christian, then the probability is going to have to become one yourself because you cannot import what you do not possess an children will not understand the gospel if it is not lived out before them in flesh and blood red about the age of accountability. I one last question and then were finished.

How old our children to be in heaven. Everybody go all kinds of different news concerning this question and there is no absolute answer given in Scripture.

Some believe that when we are in heaven we will all be mature in body and mind and spirit and the thought is like this. If babies cannot fully enjoy this life. How can we expect them to fully enjoy eternal life with God, if there still babies. One proponent of this view argues that the book of Revelation describes worship in heaven, and as it involves everyone who was there. Therefore, whoever is in heaven will be at such an age is to be able to participate in the eternal worship of Almighty God will not do that. Alister McGrath says as each person reaches their peak of perfection around the age of 30. They will be resurrected as they would have appeared.

At that time, even if they had never lived to reach that age, the new Jerusalem will be populated by men and women as they would appear at the age of 30, but with every blemish removed now for all of you who are 30 today.

This is gotta be a great you know you are according to what they say the peak age.

Some have increased the age to 33 since that was the time when Christ was crucified. So if you're 33 okay from then on its downhill. No others that I have read believe that children will be allowed to grow up in heaven and they support this view. This way if the millennium is the prelude to heaven we know something about the millennium that's true, and that is that there are children in the morning. Remember Isaiah 11 a little child shall lead them. A nursing child shall play by the cobras hair and a mean child should put his hand on the viper's den. So if the millennium is part of heaven.

Then there's some reasonably but perhaps children will be in heaven. And some people believe the children will be in heaven and allowed to grow up until the age of 30 and in the be frozen at 30. Now wouldn't that be something that is heaven. Just think about that is.

Anyway, I don't know the answer to that except J. Vernon McGee was such a quite teacher once said, I believe with all my heart that God will raise the little ones, such that the mother's arms. You have ached for them will have the opportunity of holding them.

The father's hand, which never held the little hand will be given the privilege. I believe that little ones will grow up in heaven in the care of their earthly parents if they are saved well. I tried to deal with the subject in a sensitive way, and I hope that what you've understood from what I've said is if you have one little one who is gone and you no longer with them.

They died that little one is with the Lord.

I believe that with all my heart, on the authority of the word of God. I can tell you that I can also say don't listen your vigilance to the children God is giving you and watch over them as a mother hen watches over her chicks bring them to a knowledge of Jesus Christ at the earliest possible age, there was a family whose baby boy had died in the little girl came to the mother and ask her where her baby brother had gone and her mother said he is going to be with Jesus. A few days later, the mother was visiting with a friend in she was saying to her friend. I am so relieved to have lost my baby, the little girl heard her remark and came to her mother and said mama is something lost when you know where it is. Well of course not replied. The mother will how can baby be lost when he is going to be with Jesus as the little girl a baby is not lost when you know where that baby is finally there's one more difficult question and then we will close the session, the question of ashes where your baby in heaven, but I want to ask one that's really pertinent everyone of us that is will you be in heaven with your baby. Baby is going to be in heaven. I can tell you that without any doubt, but I don't know about you, you are not under the special blessings of the Lord you are above the age of accountability. You are a morally responsible adult and you must make a decision about heaven.

The children of born-again parents do not automatically go to heaven. Neither do the parents of children in heaven automatically joined them there. If you want to see your child and enjoy a heavenly reunion. You must be born again you must come to know Jesus Christ Almighty God sent his son Jesus Christ into this world to be your savior. He has done all the work he has done everything that needs to be done. He only asked you to accept it and believe in and receive him into your life. If you do that you become a Christian and will spend eternity in heaven with God and with those children who have gone on before. If you refuse to do that will not go to heaven. This does not apply to adults, it applies only to children before they can understand, so my plea with you today is to know Jesus.

Are you sure that if you were to die today. You would stand before God with the right answer and be able to enter into heaven. If you've never made that decision to trust him. I would ask you to do it today know are doing these days when so many messages are going back and forth throughout the atmosphere. The one message that to me needs to be means to be central to everything and that is what you going to do with Jesus Christ, Jesus Christ, who came to this earth to die on the cross for your sin and pay the penalty that you deserve for the wrongdoings you've done in your life what you want to do with him. Have you accepted him. Have you received him as your Savior. Have you received the forgiveness of your sins from the Savior of the world, the Lord Jesus, you can do that right now.

Wherever you are, no matter what your situation if you're driving in a car find a place to pull off and I just bow your head before the Lord and say Lord Jesus please come into my life and forgive me of my sin. Give me the gift of eternal life that I might spend eternity with you in heaven. He will hear your prayer team will answer your prayer and you will make your reservation for heaven right now today wherever you are if you make that decision you've trusted Christ.

Please let us know. We have a couple of really important books we love to send you little pamphlets called for steps of faith in your greatest Turning Point there yours just for the asking. If you've made a decision for Christ love to help you in that way, we'll see writer tomorrow on this error message today from Shadow Mountain Community Church and senior pastor Dr. David Jeremiah please write until his head. God is using Turning Point in your life right through us.

It an important stuff is books 38 San Diego, CA 92163 visit our website at David Jeremiah adult/radio Oscar copy of the book revealing the mysteries of heaven are informed about your amazing eternal truth for a gift of any amount you can also download the free Turning Point in my life. Favorites not devising in your app store for the keywords Turning Point ministries for instant axis programs and resources visit Jeremiah.org/radio on Jerry join us tomorrow as we continue the series revealing the mysteries of heaven here on Turning Point with the taking time to listen to the frenzies increased in size and