The Gospel with Sophia

Last night I read Sophia (my 3 yr old daughter) a Bible story before bed. The story was about Eastern astrologers who visited Jesus after his birth and worshiped him. After the story, we, like these men from the East, bowed and worshiped Jesus in song. After praising Jesus, I told Sophia that one day we won't have to close our eyes in worship but will be able to see him and sing our praises to him in Heaven. Sophia then asked, "When we will get to go to heaven?" I told Sophia that we don't get to go until we die. She said she didn't want to die. I explained to her that everyone will die one day. We will all have to die at some point. I told her that those who follow Jesus and trust Him alone as their Savior will get to be with him in heaven. As Sophia struggled to grasp and understand death and heaven, she asked about Isabella (her little sister), "Will Izzy get to go to heaven?" I explained that whoever trusts in Jesus will be in heaven with him. As we finished praying together and kissed and said goodnight, Sophia said, "Dad...I want to go to heaven but I don't want to go to the cross." This statement shocked me b/c I had not mentioned the cross in a long time. I explained to Sophia that since Jesus went to the cross, we don't have to. He went there for us, to take our place. This is the good news of the Gospel. I am praising God for His work in Sophia's heart even now. Sophia understood that Jesus' exalted place in heaven was only by means of the cross. Sophia is already demonstrating a burden and concern for the salvation of the lost, even her little sister. Please join me in praying for God's continuing work in Sophia's heart; that one day she would embrace the call to follow the Lord and trust Him for salvation.