Letters From Grandpa #479

• LETTERS FROM GRANDPA
• 479

Dearest grandchild,

Today’s letter will be about a man named Nicodemus and the famous expression “born again.” This story is found in John 3:1-21. Please take time to read this famous passage in the Bible! This brief letter will not do justice to the subject of being “born again”, or as some versions say “born from above.” Hopefully, however, it will at least encourage you to think about it! It is extremely important for you must be “born again” in order to ‘see’ the kingdom of God. And you must be “born again of the water and the Spirit” in order to “enter” into the Kingdom of God (John 3:5).

Please consider that life comes from seeds! God created physical life on the third day of creation (Gen. 1:11), and this life came from “seeds.” Every seed reproduced “after its own kind.” Nicodemus had physical life that came from a physical seed. When the seed from his father united with the egg of his mother his life began. 23 chromosomes, and 15,000 genes from each parent united to create his physical life. This miracle of life is almost too wonderful for words. The human genome, as you know, contains some 3.5 billion letters in correct order. Merely to read these letters requires about 100 years. All physical life, however, is temporal. If Nicodemus wanted eternal life it would have to come from an eternal seed. Jesus reminded him of this by saying “Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.” (John 3:6) Peter also reminded his readers: “For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of the imperishable, through the living and eternal word of God.” (1 Peter 1:23)

Man, as you know, is unique in creation. Only man is created in the “image of God.” Only man has a “spirit.” Man is made up of three parts, “spirit, soul, and body” (1 Thess. 5:23). Animals do not have a spirit. Animals do not live forever. The spirit of man, however, does live forever. Your spirit will be alive long after your body is dead. If you want your spirit to be in heaven you must be “born again.” If you want God to be your Father you must be born of His Spirit.

Receiving the Spirit of God is also like a marriage. In fact, when Paul wrote to the Ephesians about the relationship between husbands and wives he said: “This is a great mystery – but I am talking about Christ and the church.” (Ephesians 5:32) Yes! Just as husbands and wives become “one flesh” “He who unites himself with the Lord is one with him in spirit.” (1 Cor. 6:17) Even though we cannot “see” God’s Spirit, faith enables us to be sure. For “Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” (Hebrews 11:1) Remember! “God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship him in spirit and in truth.” (John 4:24). Jesus said this about the Bible: “The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life.” (John 6:63) That’s why heaven and earth will pass away, but the words of Jesus will never pass away (Matthew 24:35).

Jesus explained to Nicodemus the influence of the Spirit by saying: “The wind blows where it pleases. You can hear the sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” (John 3:6) The unseen Spirit transforms the lives of those who are born again just as the unseen wind moves a ship. Just as a physical seed produced the earthly Nicodemus, the Holy Spirit produces a “new creation”! Jesus is not only the “Word of God” (John 1:1) He is also the “Seed” of God (Galatians 3:16). Consequently, when you receive Jesus into your heart you are “born again” and become a “new creation” (2 Cor. 5:17). Like the invisible wind the Spirit of God creates this change! Like a father passes his DNA to his child “No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God.” (1 John 3:9)

Jesus also taught that we must be converted and become like little children in order to enter into the kingdom of heaven (Matt. 18:3). This is significant! Little children cannot tell the difference between a $10 bill and a $100 bill. Little children cannot tell the difference between a copper ring and a gold ring. This gives them an advantage in surrendering everything to Christ! A five year old child will find it easier to give up everything for Christ than they will 50 years later. This is why the older we get the fewer of us receive Christ as Lord! The world places more value on earthly possessions than God does. Jesus once told a story to illustrate this! (Lk. 12:13-21) It seems a rich farmer harvested a bumper crop. Instead of sharing it with others, however, he built bigger barns and hoarded his wealth for himself. He assumed that his earthly possessions would give him security for many years. He was wrong! He died that night and left all of his earthly wealth to others. Jesus concluded: “This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God.” (Lk. 12:21)

It is possible to hold a penny so close to your eye that you cannot see the sun! In the same way spiritual reality only comes into focus for those who seek God more than money! God said: “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” (Jer. 29:13) The apostle Paul is a good example of seeking for God with all his heart. Even thought he was persecuting Christians he did so in ignorance because he thought that’s what God wanted him to do. This becomes clear when studying his encounter with Christ on the Damascus Road. Jesus spoke to him in the Aramaic language (Acts 26:14-18). Paul clearly understood every word! Paul’s companions, however, “saw the light, but they did not understand the voice of him who was speaking.” (Acts 22:9) Why not? They were religious Jews just like Paul was! They spoke Aramaic just like Paul did! The simple answer is that out of the whole group only Paul was seeking for God with his whole heart. Something similar happened in Jerusalem to Jesus (John 12:27-33) God spoke to Jesus from heaven but no one else understood what was said! You too can find God when you search for Him with your whole heart!

Jesus, as you know, was crucified between two thieves. At the beginning of the ordeal both robbers heaped insults on him (Matt. 27:44). As the day wore on, however, one thief came to his senses and said to his blasphemous companion: ““Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus answered him,“Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” (Lk. 23:40-43)

When you receive Jesus Christ and are “born again,” you too can have eternal life!

I love you,

Grandpa Boyce