True Confessions

They say that life imitates art, and as a mother of a 5 and 6 year old, I would have to say that is absolutely true! Lately, I feel like Jack Bauer on the television series 24. You know how it is. You've isolated the "suspect" and now it's time for him to 'fess up and give it to you straight! You're negotiating, you're threatening, you're promising immunity, you're calling headquarters for cell phone records and video recorded data. Really, all you want is the truth! Unfortunately, the truth is, when you have little kids, somebody is always doing something they're not supposed to be doing, but nobody is willing to admit to doing ANYTHING!

Admittance of guilt is just about as popular as an early bedtime around here. So, you can believe it just about took me to my knees when my little girl offered up what is perhaps the most powerful confession anyone can ever make.

"I have sin."

Three simple words uttered in complete honestly and childish simplicity of heart, yet powerful enough to arrest the attention of Almighty God.

"I have sin!"

Oh, how I've longed to hear those words from the lips of my child! For months, we've been having LOTS of spiritual discussions. You know, even a child as young as 4 or 5 years of age can exhibit signs of being under conviction. My two older children have reached this age, and I've found that they are a lot like adults who are under conviction. When spiritual topics come up, they either deny any wrongdoing or they tend to change the subject.

"You know, sweetie. Jesus died for your sins."

"Did you know 'sin' starts with an 's'? I know how to write an 'S.' The word 'snake' starts with an 's' too. The anaconda is the biggest snake in the world...."

About a month ago, we were riding along in the car and the topic of dying and going to Heaven came up for the umpteenth time. As usual, I reminded the children that the only way to Heaven is through Jesus. Putting it in "kiddy lingo," I expressed this important life step as "asking Jesus into your heart." My daughter piped up from the backseat,"Oh, I already asked Jesus into my heart!"

"When was that?"
"When I was on the swing!"
"Well, what did you say to Jesus?"
"I told him, 'Happy, happy Jesus!'"

And I'm sure you know what happened next. Drum roll PLEASE....

She changed the subject!!! (What did you expect??? lol :)

I laughed a little in the retelling of this story, but I realized that the vast majority of Americans believe this. Funny that even a 5 year old would borrow this philosophy from the world. In case you're wondering, here is the gospel according to the general population: Jesus is Happy. Jesus is Nice. Jesus lets nice and happy people into Heaven. End of discussion!

The problem with this theology is that Jesus is not just Happy, but he is also HOLY. Some of us are good and some of us are nice and some of us are even happy, but NONE of us is holy! The Bible says that "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." Like my daughter, we all have to come to the point where we utter those simple, yet PAINFUL Words - "I have sin!" Sin that I have no personal answer for. Sin that separates me from God. Sin that cannot be atoned for any other way but the blood of Jesus.

So, what did I say to my daughter when she offered up this true confession? I told her to tell Jesus about it. I didn't ask her to repeat the "The Magic Getting Saved Words." We didn't recite the Romans Road in perfect synchrony. She just told Jesus her problem, "I have sin" and thanked Him for his solution, "You died on the cross for me." It was the beauty of the Gospel in a nutshell and the moment of salvation for one little girl who crossed over from death to life. I think I'll go now and put on my dancing shoes. Can I get an "Amen" and a "Happy Happy Jesus!"???