Of Youth and Eternity

Do you ever wonder where infants or children go if they pass early from this life? Without assurance of the answer, it may be a painful question, especially to a parent who has suffered the loss of a child. Though knowing the answer may not quench the grief, being able to know with certainty that the child is safe in Heaven would surely be a great comfort.

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Beyond a source of consolation, the answer is critically important  to parent and non-parent alike because it reflects what kind of God we serve, and our perspective of Him. If the answer is that God would put babies in hell…could you really desire to serve a God like that? Could you reconcile it with the fact He is a loving Father to those who place their faith in Him?  But if the answer is that babies go to Heaven...how much differently we might think of Him! How much comfort and trust we might gain in knowing the mercy and goodness of God.

Babies….don’t go to heaven?? 

Some of the arguments I have heard which challenge the idea that all babies go to heaven use verses such as these to defend the unthinkable -

Yet man is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward. - Job 5:7

For vain man would be wise, though man be born like a wild ass's colt. - Job 11:12 

Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. - Psalm 51:5 

In other words, the argument is that since we were born in sin, like unto Adam, if we die at any age, even in the womb, the child/baby is inherently sinful and in just as much danger of hellfire until they come to salvation. For many, the solution to this horrible thought is the practice of infant baptism. Except there are two problems with this -

First, the verses quoted are misapplied. Job 5:7 is a reference to trials and suffering on the earth, and how they are a part of our lives from the time we are born. Job 11:12 is pointing out the ignorance or foolishness of man, like an animal is born with only instinct, knowing nothing. Psalm 51:5 points to the sinful nature of the mother/parents. None of the verses state that the child is already damned.

Second, baptism cannot save a person, no matter what their age. Baptism is only a testimony of our salvation, which we have already received by faith. Water cannot save. It is only by the blood of Jesus Christ we can be saved, by placing our faith in what He has done for us. Nowhere in the Bible can you find any verses which teach infant baptism.

So what does the Bible show about the fate of those who die at an early age, even from the womb? At first glance, the Bible may seem vague on the issue, but there are actually quite a few verses, and they form a solid conclusion.

“Of such is the kingdom of God”

First, there are the passages we are most familiar with, to do with the simplicity and innocence of children, and how tenderly the Lord regards them. There are also warnings from God against harming children (or "innocent blood"), and a reference to their “guardian angels” -

 …Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God… Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein. - Mark 10:14-15, Matthew 18:3, Luke 18:16

Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish. - Matthew 18:14 

But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea. - Matthew 18:6, Mark 9:42

Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven. – Matthew 18:10

Perhaps the single, most revealing passage in the entire Bible is 2 Samuel 12:22-23, where David is mourning over the death of his newborn son of Bathsheba –

And he said, While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept: for I said, Who can tell whether GOD will be gracious to me, that the child may live? But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.

“I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me” – David had faith in God. He knew he would go to heaven when he died. This is why the phrase in 2 Samuel 12 is so important. David is saying he will join his child again in heaven, but that his child will not come back from the dead.

Frankly, based on this evidence alone, you could stop here and skip the rest of this post. But if you're still not sure, or just revel in the nitty-gritty like I do, read on. There is much more!

Knowledge of good and evil

Here, the study becomes more involved. We must go back to the garden of Eden and consider the state of Adam and Eve. Before their fall they were innocent, like children. Why? Because they did not have a knowledge of good and evil. “Unto the pure, all things are pure” (Titus 1:15). But as soon as they ate of the tree and this knowledge was revealed, they lost that innocence and everything changed -

But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.” (2:17), “For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.” (3:5) - Genesis 2 & 3

Now, compare this with a passage referring to the children of the Israelites who, for their distrust and rebellion were sentenced to 40 years of wandering about in the wilderness -

 Moreover your little ones, which ye said should be a prey, and your children, which in that day had no knowledge between good and evil, they shall go in thither, and unto them will I give it, and they shall possess it.
- Deuteronomy 1:39

Notice the wording – “no knowledge between good and evil”. This would seem to strongly indicate an “age of accountability”. The threshold between a child who still needs to be taught, and an adult who is mature enough to responsible for his own actions. Although the following verses are written as instruction to adult Christians, note how the analogy of a child is applied  -

As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: 
- 1 Peter 2:2

For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which [be] the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. 
- Hebrews 5:12-13

But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
- Hebrews 5:14

Hebrews 5:14 defines this “age of accountability” by the ability to discern both good and evil. Not just out of fear, but of understanding. The same concept is even applied to the childhood of the Lord Jesus who, though sinless, still grew as a normal child -

Butter and honey shall he eat, that he may know to refuse the evil, and choose the good. For before the child shall know to refuse the evil, and choose the good, the land that thou abhorrest shall be forsaken of both her kings.
- Isaiah 7:15-16

What then, is the actual age of accountability? Although some may try to put an exact age on it, I personally don’t believe there is a set age, but that it varies by the individual. Every child is different, and only the Lord truly knows what is in their heart, whether they are innocent or subject to sin. For this same reason, I also believe some may never reach the age - such as those who are born with severe mental deficiencies and never reach the mental maturity of an adult, and would therefore likewise go to heaven in case of premature death.

Closing thoughts

Children are born innocent, not knowing right from wrong. However, this is not to say innocence or ignorance are equivalent with perfection or sinlessness. Children do bad things, as anyone experienced with kids knows. They might hit, bite, steal, lie, pout, say bad things, be disobedient, etc. - the list goes on. Only the Lord Jesus Christ was sinless. But they don’t realize that it is wrong, or why, and must be taught. Which is why they need parents.

Because we cannot know exactly when a child loses this state of innocence, it is the job of parents to do their utmost in those early years to instruct them in wisdom and in truth. To cherish and protect their innocence, while giving them a foundation based upon Biblical principles. Teaching them to love God's Word by studying it yourself, and letting them see how much importance you place on it. Above all, ensuring they are taught how to be saved - without pressuring them to making a decision which they might not be ready or understanding enough to make yet.

Finally, in returning to the initial question of this post, the conclusion is that if a child or infant dies in their innocence, they will be taken directly to heaven. There, they will be safe and loved forever under the protection of the Heavenly Father. This then is the God whom we serve, a God "Full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth" (Psalm 86:15).

Is that not reason alone to trust His grace?

In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight.
-Luke 10:21