I enjoy the time change. I like the longer days. While others debate the pros and cons of Daylight Savings Time, I look forward to it. It signals the beginning of a new program. Although it does not coincide with the seasonal change it is to me like a precursor. Spring is soon to begin. Everything comes back to life. There is a certain sense of being released from early daily reclusion at home because it seems to be too late to go out. The world is brighter longer.
Becoming a Christian is something like that. It is an adjustment in a person’s timeline. On Saturday a man is a sinner, unsaved, on his way to hell. On Sunday he becomes a new creation, born again, and thankful for heavenly hope. The light has been turned on, the darkness is dissipated. So much better is on the way.
The truly saved never wants to return to Saturday. He only wants to go forward. And there is no end to the new light.
The Apostle Paul said, Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 2 Corinthians 5:17.
Talk about hitting the reset button. And Jesus explained that this new man is now ready for Kingdom living.
Look at what he told Nicodemus, the man that came to him at night. He was about to wake up to a new day too.
John 3:1-5: There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:
2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.
3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?
5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
Although a ruler of a religious sect, Nicodemus’s spiritual understanding was very shallow. He only perceived some things about Jesus. Jesus immediately explained to him the difference between religious and the born again experience.
Essentially, Nicodemus was dealing with periphery matters. Jesus says in order for your vision to be to go beyond the teacher recognizance level, you need to be born again. Only then can you see into the true nature of the God man, the Christ, the redeemer, the Messiah. To see the King requires new eyes.
In addition, if you desire to enter into the realm of that King you need to be born again, and this time he elaborates the nature of the new birth. It is a work of the Holy Spirit. Nicodemus could see how far away he was from that. Verse 9 says, Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be? Jesus affirmed his ignorance.
Verse 10 states, Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?
In conclusion, seeing and entering the Kingdom of God requires a new birth. That is brought about only through an encounter with Jesus.
As my Dad used to say to people he wanted to witness to, Do you know Jesus?
If not, you need a time change. -PJF-
Purpose! Ministries
A Praying Church - A Healing Church - A Holy Spirit Church - A Preaching Church
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