Born again?

John 3:5 " And Jesus said," verily, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again."

I began a new bible study this week led by my pastor's wife. The first question of the first study guide said," when did you get saved?" To many of us, we have heard that question dozens of times over our lives. For others, it seems totally intrusive and strange. When I was younger, this would have offended me. I went to church every week as a young person. I knew the stories better than anyone I knew. Yet, I never thought that "being saved" was something Jesus desired of people. I think I thought Jesus meant being saved from a hard life, from being a bad person, from destitution and pain. Jesus' whole point was love. If i loved those around me and treated everyone well. My life would be better. 

Nicodemus was a lucky man. He had the opportunity to visit Jesus and ask him. "How can someone be born when they are old?" John 3:4. Is this not the question doubters ask those of us who use the term "born again"? Are there not scoffers out there that think this is a term that Bible thumpers have made up. That is what I thought as a young person. I look back now and think why was I so blind? Why did I think I knew it all when the Truth was right there? I could say the Bible isn't true but I couldn't deny that Jesus had said that you must be born again.

So how does one become "born again?" According to John 3:6-8, be born of the Spirit and no one knows where the Spirit blows. It goes where it pleases and it is with everyone born of the Spirit. Jesus speaks like a mystery and to find the Truth one must read more than a few verses and as I now believe -  be blessed by God's calling to understanding. But I also believe if you truly seek, you will find the Truth. In this same passage Jesus takes Nicodemus back to Moses and the pole with the serpent on it. The people needed to look upon the serpent in order to be healed. Jesus pulled from the Scriptures this Pharisee would know - the key is focus on the Savior and you will be healed. That seems too simple but that was the promise and I believe it.

This simple Truth is followed by the most famous verse in the Bible "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16.  And I look on to verse 19: "This is the verdict, Light has come into the world but the people loved the darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil." Followed by 21, the promise:" But whoever lives by the truth comes into the Light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done is done in the sight of God." What have these truth-livers done?    Looked upon that "serpent on the pole" and obeyed.