WILL YOU CHOOSE TO BE BORN TWICE AND DIE ONCE, OR BE BORN ONCE AND DIE TWICE ?

Life and Death. It is a subject that is front and center for every single person that inhabits the earth. We as humans spend SO MUCH TIME trying to figure out how to prolong our physical life. Everywhere you look and listen there are products advertised, programs touted, and protocols debated that focus on the Quality and Longevity of Life. All of these are focused on the Physical Aspect of our being….but what about the Spiritual Aspect ? When Jesus came to mankind as a gift from the Father, He asked those who would listen to contemplate Life in much deeper context than just the Physical realities of being alive. Jesus was way more interested in SPIRITUAL LIFE than just the Physical part of being alive, although, His Humanity allowed Him to See and Feel all the things that manifest in our lives on a regular basis. When we look at some of the things Jesus said, it should open our minds and hearts to a much deeper conversation than the simple ones that most “religions” focus upon. In fact, most religions spend their time developing a list of behavioral tasks that one must do and follow to “please” their recognized god or gods. This practice was very prevalent when Jesus came to walk among us, and is still present today in the laundry list of religions and belief systems that flow throughout humanity. Christianity has certainly had it’s share of side roads and detours that have muddled and confused the Foundational Truth Of The Gospel, but the Foundational Framework if one truly examines it is Way Different than any other “religious” belief system. I have stated in my previous writings that Christianity is the ONLY belief system that RELIES on the GIFT of a single Person, both Fully Man, and Fully God to Rebuild Relationship with The One True God, through No Ability Of Their Own ! In this Person, we are absolved of our Sin and Failures and Given, without earning it by deeds, TRUE SALVATION AND REDEMPTION INTO ETERNAL LIFE ! HIS NAME IS JESUS :) The Choice to follow Jesus moves past the point of “Belief” with our minds; It manifests in Our Hearts and promotes a Changed And Transformed Life. It invites us to Abide In Jesus, and allow Him to Abide In Us….It is a SPIRITUAL CONNECTION ! This connection “Changes Us Within Our Very Beings.” Every single person will experience a Physical Birth. We come into existence. We have a physical body and a physical presence, filled with time and activity. Every single person has this Birth. JESUS CAME TO TALK ABOUT A SECOND BIRTH ! The second “Birth” is much more difficult for many people to comprehend and understand for sure. Jesus had an amazing conversation with a Jewish Religious Leader named Nicodemus, and the “Truths” revealed in that Conversation form the very Foundation of Our Hope and Journey as Followers Of Christ :)

JOHN 3

NOW THERE WAS A PHARISEE, A MAN NAMED NICODEMUS WHO WAS A MEMBER OF THE JEWISH RULING COUNCIL. HE CAME TO JESUS AT NIGHT AND SAID, “RABBI, WE KNOW THAT YOU ARE A TEACHER WHO HAS COME FROM GOD. FOR NO ONE COULD PERFORM THE SIGNS YOU ARE DOING IF GOD WAS NOT WITH HIM.”

JESUS REPLIED, “VERY TRULY I TELL YOU, NO ONE CAN SEE THE KINGDOM OF GOD UNLESS THEY ARE BORN AGAIN.”

“ HOW CAN SOMEONE BE BORN WHEN THEY ARE OLD ?” NICODEMUS ASKED. “SURELY THEY CANNOT ENTER A SECOND TIME INTO THEIR MOTHER’S WOMB TO BE BORN ?”

JESUS ANSWERED, “VERY TRULY I TELL YOU, NO ONE CAN ENTER THE KINGDOM OF GOD UNLESS THEY ARE BORN OF WATER AND THE SPIRIT. FLESH GIVES BIRTH TO FLESH, BUT THE SPIRIT GIVES BIRTH TO SPIRIT. YOU SHOULD NOT BE SURPRISED AT MY SAYING, ‘YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN.’ THE WIND BLOWS WHEREVER IT PLEASES . YOU HEAR IT’S 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.”

“HOW CAN THIS BE ?” NICODEMUS ASKED

“YOU ARE ISRAEL’S TEACHER,” SAID JESUS, “AND YOU DO NOT UNDERSTAND THESE THINGS ? VERY TRULY I TELL YOU, WE SPEAK OF WHAT WE KNOW, AND WE TESTIFY TO WHAT WE HAVE SEEN, BUT STILL YOU PEOPLE DO NOT ACCEPT OUR TESTIMONY. I HAVE SPOKEN TO YOU OF EARTHLY THINGS AND YOU DO NOT BELIEVE; HOW THEN WILL YOU BELIEVE IF I SPEAK OF HEAVENLY THINGS ? NO ONE HAS EVER GONE INTO HEAVEN EXCEPT THE ONE WHO CAME FROM HEAVEN - THE SON OF MAN. JUST AS MOSES LIFTED UP THE SNAKE IN. THE WILDERNESS, SO THE SON OF MAN MUST BE LIFTED UP, THAT EVERYONE WHO BELIEVES MAY HAVE ETERNAL LIFE IN HIM.

FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD THAT HE GAVE HIS ONE AND ONLY SON, THAT WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM SHALL NOT PERISH, BUT HAVE ETERNAL LIFE.

BORN AGAIN….IN THE SPIRIT….THROUGH BELIEF IN JESUS ! WHO HE IS ! WHAT HE DID ! HIS RESURRECTION AND HIS POWER TO FORGIVE SIN, AND TRANSFORM YOUR LIFE ! HIS RETURN, AND YOUR JOURNEY TO JOIN HIM IN HIS KINGDOM. YOUR SECOND BIRTH….THROUGH FAITH. NOT FOR EVERYONE, BUT FOR THOSE WHO CHOOSE TO FOLLOW HIM AND “ABIDE” ! ! !

Death is the second part of the conversation. It is the piece that every one of us struggles to contemplate….until we are Born Again :) Longevity is the goal on the path to “Avoid” death. Death for many is THE END. Many fear it, and spend amazing time and treasure to keep it at bay for as long as possible. Alas, it is an unwelcome guest that no one is in a hurry to see…but it is inevitable. It is a mystery for many, and with good reason. The funny thing is, that once you are BORN AGAIN, death is not a mystery. Death is but the BEGINNING INTO ETERNAL LIFE IF YOU BELONG TO JESUS ! True to Scriptural Reference, the “Sting” of death is taken away by the SURITY OF JESUS CHRIST’S RESURRECTION. WE, THROUGH HIM, will experience Resurrection…and WE AS BELIEVERS will only experience death One Time, and only in the Physical Sense. So, what is the discussion of “Dying Twice” all about ? Like Birth, there is a Physical piece to death as we all know…but there is also a Spiritual Piece to death just like life. For many of those who have a Belief in Christ, Heaven and Hell are not just a figment of one’s imagination. They Are Absolutely REAL, and they couldn’t be More Different. There are also Two Kingdoms. God’s Kingdom, where Light and Holiness prevail; Satan’s Pit, where Darkness, Separation, and Utter Despair and Desolation prevail. A place of Fire, Pain, and Hopelessness….Eternally. SO, as we should expect, Scoffers are going to Scoff. Unbelievers are Not going to Believe. That is REALITY…sadly:( THE SECOND DEATH IS ETERNAL SPIRITUAL SEPARATION FROM GOD. It is truly something to Really Fear, because it is Eternal also. No Future, No Hope, No Joy, Continuous Suffering,,,over and over and over. WHY WOULD SOMEONE CHOOSE IT ? Many reasons I suppose. Pride. Ignorance. Arrogance. Anger. Perhaps thinking the only God they need is Themselves. The saddest thing about Spiritual Death is that it also is CHOSEN !

Many Christians are also worried about their Salvation because of JUDGEMENT ! I would suggest truly spending time in understanding that for True Followers Of Christ, our judgement is much different than the judgement of unbelievers. The WHITE THRONE JUDGEMENT is when the Book Of Life is opened, and both the living and dead are judged, according to what they had done. Thusly, Death and Hades and all destined to them are thrown into The Lake Of Fire….The Second Death. REVELATION 20:11-16 Contemplate : Books of deeds and works…what has been done, said, and thought. Contemplate : Book Of Life with the names of those who have Faith In Christ destined for Eternal Life with Jesus.The BEMA SEAT JUDGEMENT, also referred to as the “Judgement Seat Of Christ is for Believers, and focuses on REWARDS for works done AFTER SALVATION. Does this make you STRIVE IN HUMILITY TO DO ALL YOU CAN TO SHARE THE GOSPEL AND SERVE GOD’S KINGDOM ? IT SHOULD ! ! ! Jesus calls us as believers to “ Come Follow Me, and I will send you out to fish for People ! “ Matthew 4: 18-20 Jesus also calls us to “ Feed My Sheep “. This is a call for ACTION AND BOLDNESS….not simply sitting in a church pew or serving once in a while. THIS IS A NEW LIFE ! Serving God, His People, and His Kingdom, with ALL YOUR HEART :) Pressing into GOD’S WILL, GOD;S PURPOSE, AND GOD’S PATH ! These are CHOICES. OUR CHOICES :) WHAT DOES GOD DESIRE FOR YOU ?

FOR I DESIRE STEADFAST LOVE AND NOT SACRIFICE, THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD RATHER THAN BURNT OFFERINGS. Hosea 6:6

TRUST IN THE LORD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND DO NOT LEAN ON YOUR OWN UNDERSTANDING. IN ALL YOUR WAYS ACKNOWLEDGE HIM, AND HE WILL MAKE STRAIGHT YOUR PATHS. Proverbs 3: 5-6

DO NOT BE CONFORMED TO THIS WORLD, BUT BE TRANSFORMED BY THE RENEWAL OF YOUR MIND, THAT BY TESTING YOU MAY DISCERN THE WILL OF GOD, WHAT IS GOOD AND ACCEPTABLE, AND PERFECT. Romans 12:2

WE ALL HAVE FREE WILL. WE ALL MUST CHOOSE. CHOOSE WISELY :) My prayer is that these words will propel you to the Salvation and Eternal Life that awaits in Jesus Christ. May It Be So ! Amen

* Special Thanks to Pastor Jason Fritz for planting the seed for this blog writing. Thanks for your Leadership, Sheperding, and Wisdom !

BE REBORN IN CHRIST/JAA