Secrets from Beyond The Grave

However, from a more practical perspective, most Christians have three major questions: Will there be aborted spirits of infants in heaven? Will my pet be in heaven? Will people who have never heard the gospel be in heaven? What does Scripture reveal about children? For centuries there has been a debate about the age at which a child becomes accountable for his or her own sins and decisions. As a child growing up, I heard that this age of accountability was five, ten, twelve, thirteen, and even older. Among those of the Jewish faith, religious Jews recognize the significance of the age of thirteen in the life of both boys and girls. When a Jewish child turns thirteen, the family celebrates with a bar mitzvah, meaning, "son of the commandments," or a bat mitzvah, meaning, "daughter of the commandments." Prior to the age of thirteen, the father of the children is responsible for the moral and spiritual instruction of his sons and daughters. Age thirteen is the age when most young people experience the physical and emotional changes we call puberty . The Bible does give insight into the fact that children are special to the Lord and are brought to Him at death. One prime example is David's adultery with Bathsheba, which resulted in Bathsheba becoming pregnant with David's child. The child was a son, and after he was born, he was stricken with a sickness as a judgment against David's sin. The newborn lived seven days, then died. During those seven days, David fasted for the child's healing, and when he passed, David said: But now he is dead; why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me. --2 Samuel 12:23 The child had died, and its tiny spirit was taken out of its body and taken to the paradise chamber. David knew he could not bring the infant back, but that he would one day go where the infant was! In the New Testament, Christ continually blessed the children, and on one occasion Christ revealed how children have their own personal angels: Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven. --Matthew 18:10 The setting of this verse is the occasion when the disciples asked Christ who was the greatest in the kingdom. Christ brought a little child before Him and spoke of "their angels." Children are assigned angels, and these angels are continually before the throne of the Lord. Christ made it clear that heaven is made of children. But Jesus said, "Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven." And He laid His hands on them and departed from there. --Matthew 19:14-15 If a person cannot receive Christ in the simple faith of a child, that person will miss entering the kingdom of heaven. Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me. --Matthew 18:3-5