Seeds For Thinking

Link: http://seedsforthinking.oldgleaner.com/

* Birth
* Scripture: Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." John 3:3, NKJV.

What a difference a little time can make! In an instant, in the twinkling of an eye, things can change forever. One form of existence can pass away and a new one begin. It may be the heavenly transfer by which we pass from this earthly life to that of eternity. It may also be the beginning of an earthly life, that marvelous transition from egg or womb that occurs at birth.
Marvelous as it may be, we pretty much understand the birth process and the changes that take place as the baby grows to adulthood. Jesus' use of the term "born again" puzzled Nicodemus, who envisioned a "replay" of that earthly birth, entering a second time into his mother's womb, to be born.
Jesus is talking about a spiritual rebirth, of course, but think how people not associated with the teachings of the church or the sayings of Jesus might interpret our common usage of the phrase "born again." Would they not look upon it much as Nicodemus did? We have some explaining to do, of course.
I question that even within the church the term is fully understood for what it really means. We ask, "Do you accept Jesus as your savior?"
"Oh! Yes! Sure I do!"
We see people accepting things all the time as their one and only:
"I use only (this brand) of pain medication."
"My favorite music group is 'Moobledy Moop'."
"I only root for . . . " (insert name of team or athlete.)
Well, there is some behavior modification involved here, but is that all that it is - accepting one thing above others?
Consider this: I have been associated with farming for most of my life. I have witnessed numerous births in fur and feathers, hair and wool. My wife and I are currently shepherds, keeping sheep. Most of the time lambs are born without any help from us, but now and then the ewe needs human assistance. We had such a case recently; the baby was not positioned correctly, and the ewe wasn't able to deliver by herself. But she wouldn't let us humans help, either. If we approached, she got up and ran off. We couldn't even get close enough to read her ear-tag number.
Finally, she stopped just long enough that we were able to catch her, and relieve her from her distress. The birth was a success; a nice, healthy lamb!
But in that instant, she changed. She became a mother. Her hormones kicked in, her full attention was on the baby, on nurturing and protecting it. No more running; nothing else mattered.
Think about this: when we stop and let Jesus relieve us from our distress, we "give birth" to a new spirit that we can not do by ourselves. Now, let those 'heavenly hormones' kick in, give that baby spirit your full attention. Nurture and protect it.
May 14, 2006

Link: http://seedsforthinking.oldgleaner.com/

Scripture: In reply, Jesus declared, I tell you the truth, unless a man is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of heaven.John 3:3 (NIV).

I was reminded several times this past week of the extent that change plays in our lives. The seasons change, and nature changes to keep pace. We have seen the buds on the trees change to flowers and leaves. Plants that lay safely dormant underground all winter are now back in their fair-weather foliage. Lambs, kittens and kids (goats), that were smaller than a pin-head a few months ago are now bounding about the pasture, barn, and pens. What a miraculous change they have gone through! Not random change, but planned change.
The Unchanging God has provided change, predictable change, as a means of survival.
Survival often requires a change of form, whether dormancy, hibernation, or seed. Dormancy for plants enables them to endure weather and temperatures that would otherwise kill them. Each species has a program to reproduce. Even in animals, the chromosomes and genes of those first few cells contain all the information to reproduce the complete animal. At the proper time, I am told, each cell turns on only long enough to produce a leg, eye, or brain, and then turns off again.
What a change a young child goes through! Birth is itself a dramatic transformation from one world to another. Learning to walk is a major challenge; balancing on two supports, challenging gravity, and moving at the same time. By four or five years of age, a child has learned the complexities of whatever language they are exposed to - sometimes becoming fluent in several languages.
As I watched a program about the Exodus, I noted that the Israelites had to undergo almost a birth process, to change from settled, government-controlled servanthood in Egypt, to a nomadic existance in the desert, and then to an agriarian/village lifestyle in Israel, the promised land. Their most major change, though, was in their relationship to God. Although birth takes place in a finite moment, growth is a continuing process. Growth involves change!
God has provided change, predictable change, as a means of survival for all of us. Born Again, Jesus called it. Paul said, We are a new being in Christ. Leave behind the old; become new. We must grow and mature in this world toward that form which will prepare us for the life in the eternal world.
What would have happened had the Israelites remained in Egypt? What happens to the plant that doesn't bud and bloom? What happens to the embryo that doesn't change beyond a few cells? What happens to the New-born Christian who doesn't grow in the image of Jesus? 6/1/97