No man can resolve himself into heaven. D. L. Moody
John 3:1-7
1 There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.
2 This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, "Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him."
3 Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."
4 Nicodemus said to Him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?"
5 Jesus answered, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit
As I thought about this week's blog I was taken back to a simple thought and it is the need that people have when they are making decisions and especially the one that determines their eternity.
When anyone is making a large purchase, whether a house or a car, they narrow your options by comparison shopping. They want the very best for your money, you know the best bang for the buck.
When thinking about eternity, there is only one option. It’s not a matter of shopping around. We are told in Matthew 7:14 the path to eternal life is one in which the “...gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it". Believing in Jesus Christ is the only way to heaven.
Can you go back at some particular point in your life and say, "At this time something happened to me that absolutely changed my life–I never have been the same since"? So for anyone it is when you recognize your sinfulness, acknowledge that Jesus Christ died on the cross, and accept Christ by faith that you are saved. This defining moment is important in every believer’s life. It is the moment of new birth when you begin your personal relationship with God.
God longs for intimate fellowship with His children. He desires for you to do more than just accept Him as your Lord and Savior. He wants to transform your life into all that He has planned for you. He longs for you to know Him. God wants you to love Him, to be devoted to Him, to spend time reading His Word and seeking His face.
When you commit your life to Christ, you receive more than eternal life. You have personal access to almighty God. He will always stop to hear and respond to you.
A little boy was standing on the sidewalk in the middle of a block. He was obviously waiting for something. An older man approached him and asked what he was waiting for.
The little guy confidently told the older man that he was waiting for the bus. The man laughed and said the bus stop was in the next block. The boy acknowledged that fact but insisted the bus would stop for him right where he was.
The man started walking off. Before the man was too far away, he heard the screeching of brakes. He turned around and couldn't believe his eyes. The bus was actually stopping for the little boy.
The bus door opened and the youngster started to board. Just before he did, he turned toward the man down the street and yelled, "My daddy is the bus driver."
Our heavenly Father cares for his children in ways that seem impossible to those who don't understand his love. He stops for us when we need to be picked up. He is there in the most troubling times.
In Deuteronomy 31:6 it says “Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you."
These powerful words were to encourage the people of Israel. It was for Joshua, Solomon, and Hezekiah’s military officers. Their lives were faced with insurmountable challenges. It was important for God to clearly proclaim that He wanted them to know unequivocally that they could trust Him to lead them to victory.
The circumstances are different for you today. Although you are not going into a battle against a foe of flesh and blood you are however facing a spiritual battle with principalities and powers.
In Ephesians 6:12 we are told, “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.”
Each day and every hour in each day we are to trust the Lord. The battle is His and when we read the end of the Book we know that He triumphs and we are secure in Him. I hold on every day to the truth that “greater is He that is in you (me) than he that is in the world.” 1 John 4:4b
A thought to ponder,
Elbert Nasworthy
Comments