God&Neighbor

My 4 year old boy gave me joy by announcing his failure. This perhaps is an unusual response for a father, but I think it was an appropriate response for a father concerned with carrying out the Great Commission at home.

While on our way to visit Santa at the local Bass Pro Shops, my wife asked Levi if he was thinking about asking Santa for something for Christmas. His reply was, “But I’ve been bad.” This may sound strange, but the idea that my child thinks, rather knows, he is bad, excites me.

Don’t get me wrong, we praise Levi for the good he does, and often consider him a “good boy.” But the truth is that he, like me and every other human being, is on the naughty list. We are the modern manifestation of Adam. We’re bad, and realizing this early on is very good.

My hope is that Levi discovers the love and forgiveness of Christ, but like any solution, the problem—sin, in this case—needs to be known first. The truth of Romans 3:23, that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”, is the logical first step toward salvation. In fact, “if we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves… If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:8,9).

The bad news makes way for Good News: “My little children… if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” (1 John 2:1) Jesus saves once we understand what we need saving from. I am rejoicing in Levi’s first steps in the truth, thanks in part, I guess, to Santa Claus.