The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God – children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. John 1:9-13

My four-year old climbed into bed with me. “Why are you sick, mommy?” I looked into his crystal clear blue eyes, searching for truth. “I mean, like, what made you sick, mommy?”

I was dealing with extra weak legs and a side helping of migraine headache. I looked into his sweet face while answers about genetics, muscle protein and spinal fluid flashed through my mind. No, those answers simply wouldn’t do.

I pulled him into my arms and explained that God created the world and it was GOOD. Perfect, in fact. Then sin came into the world. He nodded. He already heard this about a million times in Sunday school. I continued. When sin came into the world, it wasn’t perfect anymore. It became very, very broken, which includes pain, suffering, sickness and disease. I explained that even though mommy is a sinner like everyone else, that doesn’t mean a certain sin caused me to be sick. It just means that we live in a broken world. The world itself is sick.

My four-year old was still listening very intently. But here’s the really GOOD news! Jesus died on the cross to overcome sin and someday he’s coming back to restore this broken world to the way it’s supposed to be for those who put their faith in Him. I explained that this is a promise in the Bible.

Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,”for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”  Revelation 21:1-4

My son sat straight up in bed. “I LOVE Jesus!” he exclaimed. He said it with such joy and conviction. I thought about what Jesus said in the gospels.”Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” (Matt.19:14)

I pulled him close to me again. “And Jesus loves YOU infinity times infinity!”

Grace step with me!