WHAT IF TODAY?

“Nicodemus, you must be born again!”

If suddenly I were face to face with the end of my life on this earth, what would be my initial thought and prayer? A few years ago, during a particularly sweet time in the Spirit, I sensed this question posed to my heart. Immediately my heart cried, “Have I done everything You had for me to do LORD?” In a Peace I’ve seldom known, I heard the Holy Spirit speak into my heart, “That’s a good answer!” That was not the answer my heart would have given just a few years earlier.

The psalmist prayed, search me, then try me to expose my ways! He wanted to please God, and he knew he was, by nature, hardwired to seek out his own ways. So many are taught, from the start, that God just wants to make them happy. This is so subtle, and so personal a deception, that most cannot get past it! The Truth is everything about my old life is now dead to me! The most critical offense generally taken is that God is not all about making my dreams come true! This is ALL about His Dream…the Gospel. It is a dream marked by self-denial, loss, and persecution! Even as with Jesus, we must “endure our cross and despise the shame,” if we expect to experience the “Joy that is set before us.” We are all products of the initial fall in the Garden! If this offends you, it simply proves you’re human!

In the sermon on the Mount, Jesus said we must deny ourselves, because blessing comes in persecution and poverty! He assured us that if they hated Him, they would hate us! Isn’t it strange; He spoke these life-shaking, offensive Truths to the fallen race, and some of them, though deeply offended, knew beyond the shadow of a doubt that His Words lead to a Life they were willing to die for! Do you sense it? Most don’t. He said only a few would take this narrow path, but as Peter said, LORD, to whom else shall we go?

We must bear in mind that though this regeneration and restoration has been lavished upon all mankind, only a few will follow. That’s why so many walked away and walk away still. May we, like the first disciples, count the costs, realize the Gain, and forsake all for the excellency of the knowledge of Jesus Christ! An offer that is naturally refused by the carnal man, yet a Call recognized in spirit, even by the least of these! Jesus said to him, “Nicodemus, you must be born again!”

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So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.

~Luke 14:33 KJV

I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ

~Philippians 3:8 KJV

Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life.

~John 6:68 KJV

Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

~Hebrews 12:2 KJV

Search me, O God, and know my heart: Try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting.

~Psalm 139:23-24 KJV