Yesterday afternoon, I was sitting on the couch on the back patio talking to Cole (age 4) and watching him play while reading my Bible.  He was singing some praise music: “No other way, no other way, Jesus is the only way.”  I decided that it was time to figure out what was going on in his head.

See, this summer has been a real time of spiritual growth for our littlest guy.  Of course, I’ve been anxious to have him ask Jesus into his heart for a while now, but I have been so careful not to force him into it or coerce him into it.  I wanted Cole to ask Jesus into his heart because he truly believes that Jesus is his Savior.  It’s really hard to walk the fine line between getting him to understand how important the decision is and at the same time take it seriously and making a personal decision.  Not because mama wants him to, but because HE wants to and understands what his decision means.

It’s hard to believe that a four year old can understand what it means to accept Jesus’ free gift of salvation.  Or, to even understand what salvation is and WHY he could possibly need it.  Or, to understand why it was important that Jesus died on the cross for our sins. The whole idea that a four year old could understand those concepts is mind boggling.

And so, I resisted.

Cole isn’t a very clear speaker (yet!), so I tend to baby him a bit more than I did with Grant.  I didn’t expect Cole to understand.  Why did I do that?

And yet, God’s timing is always perfect.

Cole had several opportunities to ask Jesus into his heart this summer during VBS and 5-Day-Club and the Child Evangelism Fellowship booth at Summerfest.  In fact, I witnessed him asking Jesus into his heart on three different occasions.  Of course, each time I kind of brushed it off.  I figured that he didn’t really get it.

You know what it was, though?  PRIDE.  I (capital “I”) wanted to be the one to sit with him and pray with him like we did with Grant.  I wanted to be the one responsible for leading my child to the Lord.  I resented that someone else was getting that opportunity.  How childish of me!

SO, yesterday, as I was listening to my precious boy sing praises, I called him over to sit with me and talk to me about Jesus.  I asked him if Jesus lived in his heart, and he said, “Yep!  I asked Jesus to live in my heart and he forgave my sins.” We continued talking and I asked him what that meant.  He really understood!  I asked him if he believed that Jesus died for him.  He did, and he explained that it was to take away his sins so he could talk to God.  “And, mom, he rose again!”  “Where does he live now, Cole?”  “In my heart!!”

My little 4-year-old gets it.  He made the most important decision of his life, in spite of my efforts (but I like to think I had a role!).  His faith is new, untested and childlike . . . just the way Jesus wants us to come to Him.  Our prayer is that he will continue to grow and learn what it means to live a life that is pleasing to God.  We are excited to welcome him into the spiritual family and can’t wait to see how God uses him to change the world.

Our sweet Cole: Born again on August 18th, 2010