Not because I CAN

I have been reading a book called the "Agony and the Ecstasy" by Irving stone. It’s about Michelangelo (the painter). I am not extremely far, but one statement he writes really struck me on many levels.

“I’m not an artist because I can, but because I must.”

Now this is s true statement for myself. I am an artist and it’s not just because I can, but because I also have a desire to create. The more I thought about this quote, the more I realized it also transcends to my religious living. We are not called to be Christian just because we can. We are not called to follow the rules and live just to make sure we get our spot in heaven.

“1At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, ‘Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?’

2He called a little child and had him stand among them. 3And he said: ‘I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.’”

Matthew 18:1-3

The disciples still don’t get it. They still are trying to just make it to heaven. They are not worried about the present, just their well being in the future. Am I going to be safe? Am I going to be special? Will I be great?

But what does Jesus say? He calls a child over. He calls us to be like a little child? Now I’ve heard this story over and over, but just recently I think I’ve started to really understand his concept.

A child has a desire to play, have fun. He does not go out of his way to bore his life. The child does what he or she wants to do for the most part. We as adults or even teens and young adult have “Grown up”. We’ve been changed by the world to accept the monotonous job scene and school; or back then they were learning a job or working for their parents business or trade.

But what does that mean? Why a kid? Does he want us not to work, and just have fun and do what we want?

No he wants us to take Christianity like a Kid takes a crayon or a stuffed animal. He wants us to desire it. Not just do it, not just play with Christianity in our free time. He wants us to live it. He wants us to be like the little kid from Charlie brown who carries his blanket with him everywhere. Jesus is calling us to always have it at our side.

“Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, ‘If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all.’”

Mark 9:35

He’s not calling us to become great here on earth; he’s calling us to be great for him. We can all be Christians, but only the one who lays it all down; the one who becomes a child and only carries his or her blanket will be first for Christ. For Christ laid down his life, for us. He lived his life with the downcast, the crippled, the sinners, and those who really needed him.

So be innocent, be naïve, be cheerful, and truly desire Jesus with all your heart, not just your mind. Carry with you everywhere his truth, study learn, and talk with him, and your life will change to not that of this world, but that of a child and Christ.