Out of the Mouths of Babes

He who has ears to hear, let him hear. “But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their playmates, ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.’ For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds.” Then he began to denounce the cities where most of his mighty works had been done, because they did not repent. “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I tell you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for Tyre and Sidon than for you. And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You will be brought down to Hades. For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I tell you that it will be more tolerable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom than for you.” At that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.” (Matthew 11:15-26 ESV). One of the more lovable men on TV is weatherman Al Roker on the "Today" show. I am sure you have noticed how much weight he has lost. In an interview some time ago, he said that he weighed in at over 300 pounds, at only 5' 8". The radical surgery he underwent was done after a lengthy process of examination. He had tried many diets and exercise programs over the years, but none of them seemed to work. I had wondered what had caused him to go through such extreme measures. When I heard the interview, I understood very clearly. It seems his daughter saw him without a shirt one day and remarked at how big he was. It was the kind of remark only a young child could get away with, in their innocence. The Bible has a wonderful story that emphasizes this truth (cf. Genesis 5). "When Enoch had lived 65 years, he became the father of Methuselah." It says, "after he became the father of Methuselah, Enoch walked with God 300 years. Altogether, Enoch lived 365 years. Enoch walked with God." Enoch lived for the first 65 years of his life with no mention of a relationship with God. Then, suddenly, he starts walking with God, and continues to have this intimate relationship with his Creator for the rest of his life. What was the catalyst that changed Enoch? The same thing that changed Al, it was his child. There is something about a child that makes you start thinking about yourself in ways you may not have thought before. They have a way of seeing the truth without any encumbrances. That’s the impact of the truth in our reading this morning. We need that kind of truth in our lives to measure ourselves. When we do, usually we consider looking to God, as we may have never done before. That brings us to a cry of "Help." The good news is that God stands ready to answer our cry for help. Let the simplicity of the Scripture show you the weight of your own self-centeredness, your unresolved issues, your dark side. In spite of your sin, God loves you and He wants to walk with you. The Bible says, "You who were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ." It is so simple and yet so often overlooked!