“For you have been born again, but not to a life that will quickly end. Your new life will last forever because it comes from the eternal living word of God.” (1 Peter 1:23 NLT)
For most people in our world today the question of being born more than once is nonsensical because, like Nicodemus in John 3, they immediately think of physical birth. However, due to the miraculous life, death, and Resurrection of the only Son of the living God, we have the opportunity and privilege of being born a second time – spiritually! What does that mean? How is that possible?
Jesus told Nicodemus in John 3:3: “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God.” But why would anyone want to see “the Kingdom of God”? Because this world is not all there is and to be stuck in this world system is certain, eternal death. Jesus alone is the answer everyone needs because He rules the KINGDOM OF GOD! The Kingdom of God represents God’s sovereign rule over everything that has ever been or ever will be.
Jesus is the Master Designer, Ruler, and Sustainer of all of creation from the beginning of time until the end of time. To know Him through the miracle of new birth is the only way to receive the only remedy to sin and the only cure for a heart that longs for something more than what this world can offer. Those who fail to receive His life and love while they are alive will not only die a physical death upon the expiration of their physical life, but will die again, a second death that will result in an eternity of torment. Who will this include?
According to Revelation 21:8: “But cowards, unbelievers, the corrupt, murderers, the immoral, those who practice witchcraft, idol worshipers, and all liars – their fate is in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.” Why would anyone want that? Notice the first two categories: “But cowards, unbelievers…”! Nearly all the remaining categories apply to all of us at some point in our lives. We’ve all sinned in thought, word, or deed in ways John has described here, but because we overcame our cowardice and unbelief and yielded our life and allegiance to the King of kings, we now will be safe and secure in His holy arms for all eternity.
My sense is most people who have the intellectual ability to understand the implications of ignoring Jesus will want to know this vital information. To not warn everyone we can of the severe implications of their unbelief and sin is like standing at the entrance to a bridge that is three miles high, but has fallen, with a sign that says: SPEED UP! Who in their right mind would do that?
Yet, we as believers are so reluctant to warn even those we know and love the most, that if they wait too long, it will be too late! Yes, of course, the enemy is working overtime to block our efforts, to keep us from speaking up or preventing those with whom we share from listening, but it is sin to not try, to not make every effort to let them know, to get through to them.
No one wants to be cast into “the fiery lake of burning sulfur”! Yes, of course, unbelief blinds people to the truth, so they ignore clear warnings like this; however, believing prayer by those of us who know the Truth can break these walls of resistance down. As surely as the walls of Jericho fell, the scales of unbelief will fall from the minds and hearts of those for whom we pray. We must believe, especially if those we love don’t.
Food for thought.
Blessings, Ed 😊
