John 3:5 “Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
Dear God,
How good the recent rain was giving us sweet scented mornings. Now I also appreciate the bright sunshine, cheering everything up after a chilly night. I give thanks, for every blessing that is bestowed upon me, as well as all of creation around me and the entire universe, that was spoken into existence perfect. No fault was found in all creation. Then sin arrived onto this planet, and everything was changed by Satan, for no longer was creation on this earth perfect, as everything now had a time limit on its life; for sickness and death were also bequeathed to every living thing because of the changes sin made.
Obviously mankind could never enter heaven in this condition, where all is perfect in form, function and death is unknown. Since Satan and his angels were cast out of heaven, disobedience in heaven is now also unknown there, as it was before Satan’s jealously of Your Son progressed into a full rebellion. I read in the scriptures, that in heaven all the angels delight to obey their Creator, and live in harmony with one another, in the light that comes from God the Father and His Son; for there is no darkness in God’s city.
Moses who was bought back to life after death and taken to heaven, in a symbolic action, pointing to what would happen to Christ after His death; is to be followed by many of God’s faithful ones, when Jesus comes a second time, and will raise those who have been sleeping in the grave, (and the living) awaiting His arrival. Elijah and Enoch were both taken by God to heaven, never having seen death, pointing to the certainty for some, the same will happen to them, at the second coming of Jesus.
An important man from the temple came to see Jesus secretly at night, and was amazed with what Jesus had to tell him. For Nicodemus and all mankind on earth the message from Jesus was, we will not enter heaven, unless our spiritual natures are born again through the Holy Spirit. Jesus was baptized, not because He had sinned and needed to be born again through the Holy Spirit, but as an example for all people from earth to follow. We are to be baptized by water signifying that we are commencing a new life with Jesus and all our old sinful thoughts and ways have been washed away.
Nicodemus schooled in the religious restraints of the time, did not understand the phrase, ‘to be born again’. He thought ‘physical’ when Jesus referred to spiritual. Jesus gave an example that we can all understand, as the wind cannot be seen, yet its effects can be; so with the Holy Spirit. When the Holy Spirit comes into my heart and mind, my outward works and actions, should now be new, signifying my inner changed thoughts, attitudes and life purpose etc.
Thank You, dear Jesus, that I was given the opportunity to learn of You, and that I in turn, have taken my stand in baptism, signifying my changed life and purpose, and that I have been accepted by You as a new person; then and every day as I recommit myself to You. Sadly I have found that after my baptism declaration that I am Yours, it does not mean that I will never sin again. Thankfully, because I purpose to be yours, and in repentance confess my sins and am forgiven, I can again be strengthened to progress ever upward, upon my new life with You.
Again I give thanks for my being a recipient of Your love and the salvation story, with the hope that one day I will go to Your perfect heaven, taken by the lovely, perfect Jesus.
Amen