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Cynthia Clayton The title for Cynthia's Corner

Beauty of the Kingdom

Our attention in this issue is not dealing with scientific evidence primarily as it usually does. For myself as a wife and mother and especially now as a grandmother, the evidence is about what I see in birth and life. My grandchild has been a major part of my life for the past year. I have been able to watch him grow and learn. How can anyone look at a precious newborn and not see God's hand at work? David said in the 139th Psalm, “you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful; …” (Psalm 139:13-14).

As my grandchild has grown, I have seen the love built into his very being. When I look into his eyes, I see the trust that he has for me, and his innocence shines through continuously. In Matthew 18:2-6 Jesus responds to disciples who were arguing about who would be the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. The Bible tells us that Jesus responded by taking a very small child and having the child stand among those asking who would be greatest. He then tells his disciples that they needed to change “and become like little children” or they would never enter the kingdom of heaven.

Unless you have had a close relationship with a small child, you may not understand what Jesus is saying. Children are beautiful, and their innocence radiates trust and love and humility that can make the hardest adult sinner smile. My grandson runs constantly, and he will come up to me and expect a hug. He cries when he is separated from his parents or me, or if someone says a harsh word to him. When I was crying recently over a death of a loved one, he brought me his favorite toy and held it out to me to take to make me feel better. The dog in our family does not do things like that. My grandchild is created in the image of God, and his whole existence speaks of that nature.

Jesus ends this idea by referring to those who would pollute a small child by condemning them and saying they would be better to be drowned in the sea. I pray for my grandson constantly and am fearful that Satan's workers on Earth will try to harm him and will work to take away his innocence. My grandson is at risk because he will have the choice in the future to reject those things that made him special as a small child and immerse himself in the destructive things that Jesus refers to. Thanks be to God there is a plan of salvation that can bring my grandson back to God and to the wonderful things God wants for him to have. My grandson is beautiful, and with God's Spirit guiding him, he can stay beautiful eternally.

— Cynthia Clayton

Picture credits:
©Patty Gibson

Scripture links/references are from BibleGateway.com.