Text: “For whoever finds me finds life, and obtains favor from the LORD” (Proverbs 8:35).
How would you explain life?
Would you say that life is the time between your birth and your death?
Would you say life is just your physical existence?
You might quote Genesis 2:7 which says, “And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.”
Listen to this explanation of life I received in an email.
On the first day God created the cow. God said, "You must go to the field with the farmer all day long and suffer under the sun, have calves and give milk to support the farmer. I will give you a life span of sixty years."
The cow said, "That’s kind of a tough life you want me to live for sixty years. Let me have twenty and I’ll give back the other forty." And God agreed.
On the second day God created the dog. God said, "Sit all day by the door of your house and bark at anyone who comes in or walks past. I will give you a life span of twenty years."
The dog said, "That’s too long to be barking. Give me ten years and I’ll give you back the other ten." So God agreed.
On the third day God created the monkey. God said, "Entertain people, do monkey tricks, make them laugh. I’ll give you a twenty-year life span."
The monkey said, "How boring, monkey tricks for twenty years? I don’t think so. Dog gave you back ten, so that’s what I’ll do too, okay?" And God agreed again.
On the forth day God created man. God said, "Eat, sleep, play, and enjoy yourself. I’ll give you twenty years."
Man said, "What? Only twenty years! No way, that is not enough. Tell you what, I’ll take my twenty, and the forty the cow gave back, and the ten the dog gave back and the ten the monkey gave back, that makes eighty, okay?"
"Okay," said God, "You’ve got a deal."
So that is why the first twenty years we eat, sleep, play, enjoy ourselves, and do nothing; for the next forty years we slave in the sun to support our family; for the next ten years we do monkey tricks to entertain the grandchildren; and for the last ten years we sit on the front porch and bark at everyone.
Life has now been explained.
People view life differently. Some people place a great deal of emphasis on education, career or vocation, making money, family, having a good time, traveling throughout the country or the world, acquiring material possessions, or just simply doing nothing.
I am not saying education, career, travel, earning a living, family ties, enjoyment or material possessions are wrong or bad, but I am saying life is much more. An individual can have all these things and still not having “real life”.
Our Scripture reading speaks of a man by the name of Nicodemus, an educated man who was a leading Pharisee, “a ruler of the Jews” and a member of the Sanhedrin. The Pharisees were experts in the interpretation of the Scriptures. The Sanhedrin was a council or group of 71 who heard mostly civil but some criminal cases.
Nicodemus is a good example of an educated person who does not have all the answers to life. His life was probably viewed as exceptional in the eyes of the common people, but in his heart Nicodemus knew something was missing.
His desire was to go to Jesus and ask a question. He went to Jesus by himself when it was dark, presumably so the other Pharisees would not know, and said to Jesus, “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” (John 3:2).
The signs Nicodemus referred to were supernatural wonders or miracles Jesus performed. John incorporates seven miracles in his Gospel and refers to them as signs. These signs include: turning the water into wine; healing the official’s son; healing the paralytic at the pool; feeding the multitude with a few loaves and a few fish; walking upon the water; healing the young man who was born blind, and raising Lazarus from the dead.
Jesus answered Nicodemus’ question with these words: “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3).
What do you think when you read or hear that Scripture? Are you like many people who believe that the words “born again” are words that only the Baptists use? I would hope not because these words are also in your Bible.
Keep in mind that Nicodemus is an educated man, but yet asks a silly question in one way, but a very intelligent question in another way. He asks, “How can a man be born when he is old?” (John 3:4). This is a very good question, but Nicodemus follows the question with these words:”Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” (John 3:4).
Nicodemus was thinking worldly or physically. Here is an educated man who hears Jesus’ assurance, but misses the meaning. Are there people in this country of ours who think along the same lines as Nicodemus? I would hope not, because of all the means of communication used to witness and proclaim the Word of God.
I know of some uneducated people or have basically no worldly possessions, have never traveled far from where they were born, have very little money, but have no doubt they will enter the kingdom of God because they have been “born again”.
These wonderful people have been born of the water and the spirit and do not question God’s Word. They have been cleansed by the action of the Holy Spirit as indicated in Titus 3:5 which says, “...not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit”.
Since Nicodemus was an educated man and knew the Scriptures of the Old Testament, Jesus’ words to him concerning the water and the Spirit should not have bothered him. The words in Ezekiel 36 states that God promised to restore Israel both physically and spiritually. “I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh” (Ezekiel 36:25, 26).
This is what God does for us when we are “born again”. When we repent of our sins and ask Jesus to come into our hearts, He forgives us, wipes our slate clean, and removes our old heart and replaces it with one housing the Holy Spirit.
Paul’s word to the Corinthian people is as follows: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” (2 Corinthians 5:17).
When we accept Jesus as our own personal Lord and Savior, we are new on the inside. Our new life is brought about by the Holy Spirit by God the Father. We are new beings or new creations living in union with the Lord Jesus Christ. This is the new life, this is the real life which will bring us joy and peace and guarantee us a place in His heavenly mansion.
Story:
A woman who was a very busy church worker waited for D.L. Moody after he had told a group of church workers some very plain truths from God’s Word.
“Mr. Moody,” said the angry woman, “do you mean to tell me that I, and educated woman, taught from childhood in good ways, and all my life interested in the church and doing good, must enter Heaven the same way as the worst criminals of our day?”
“No, Madam,” said Mr. Moody. “I don’t tell you at all: God does. He says everyone who would enter Heaven, no matter how good they think they are, or how well educated, or how many material possessions, or how much money, or how much traveling they have done, or how many good works, must be born again.”
---- Sunday School Times
Jesus says to Nicodemus, “Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not understand these things?” (John 3:10).
There is no question about Nicodemus being educated and the fact he knew the Old Testament Scripture, but he didn’t seem to understand what was said about the Messiah. No one in the world knows everything and don’t let someone try to tell they do. There is only one who knows all and that is the Lord Himself. It is wonderful to be filled with knowledge, but knowledge is not synonymous with salvation.
Jesus goes on and tells Nicodemus, “If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things?” (John 3:12).
That is a good question for us. If we don’t believe all the earthly happenings described in His Word, how can we believe spiritual things? Do we believe God’s Word about Moses lifting up the serpent in the wilderness and what this act signified? If we don’t believe and understand, how will we understand spiritual things God tells us?
This is the question Nicodemus was asked. He knew the Old Testament concerning this event, but he did not understand the significance or the meaning concerning the Messiah.
Nicodemus knew that the Old Testament talked about when the Israelites were wandering around in the desert complaining and speaking against God that God sent venomous snakes among the people to bite and destroy them. When the people realized they had sinned, they approached Moses and ask him to pray for their safety. Moses did pray and then God spoke to Moses.
The LORD said to Moses, “Make a snake and put it on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live” (Numbers 21:8).
Moses made the snake of bronze just as God directed him to do. Scripture says, “Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, he lived” (Numbers 21:9).
This happening is a part of history. It is something earthly that was done. It was an event that took place and people could see.
Jesus said to Nicodemus, “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:14, 15).
As the people in Moses time who were bitten by the venomous snake looked up at the bronze snake were spared death, people of today who look up to Jesus, believe in Him, and invite Him into their heart will be saved and healed of sin’s poisonous bite.
Conclusion:
Do we need to be “born again?” The answer is yes because that is what God’s Word states.
How are we “born again?”
1. We admit we are sinners.
2. We repent of our sins.
3. We ask forgiveness for our sins.
4. We confess that Jesus is God’s Son and that He shed His blood on the Cross for the remission of our sins.
5. We acknowledge and believe His birth, death and resurrection.
6. We invite Him to live within our heart in the Person of the Holy Spirit.
Once we are “born again” we are a new person. Old thing have passed away. We will have no desire to do the old, but we desire to follow in the footsteps of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.
When we are “born again” we are born of the Holy Spirit.
“For God so loves the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).
When we believe we put all of our faith, trust, and confidence in Jesus knowing that He is our only salvation.
Our present life is merely the beginning or an introduction to eternity.
Life to some people is:
1. Education
2. Career
3. Money
4. Travel
5. Entertainment
6. Family
7. Etc.
But “The Real Life” is knowing that the Lord Jesus Christ is your personal Savior and believing in your heart that He has prepared a place for you in His kingdom where you will spend eternity with Him.
Amen.
