Born Again?

I’ve always loved the line, “The happiest days are when babies are born,”  from Gone With the Wind – Ms. Mellie.  I do believe it is true.  The birth of a baby and the arrival of new life, is undoubtedly the most impactful and profound experience a person can have.  Even though the parents are the ones most deeply affected by the birth of a child, others are there there to share in the joy, the hope, and the promise of the future for that little one. 

It’s interesting that Jesus used this metaphor to teach us about eternal life, and what it’s like to have our eyes opened to the reality of the Kingdom of God.  In a conversation with a curious Pharisee, Nicodemus, Jesus said, “Do not marvel that you must be born again.”  Nicodemus was confused, thinking about physical birth.  Jesus informs him that he
Is talking about things of the Spirit, about the spirit of a person being regenerated. 

When Jesus says we must be born again, he wants to start a new process within us – a new way of thinking and being, through the power of the Holy Spirit.  “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17).

From this same conversation comes perhaps the most well known passage of Scripture, where Jesus says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).  This new birth leads to eternal life.   A new heart, a new spirit, a new life moving toward his purposes and plan for you. 

Have you been born again?