Often times I ask people a question that only has a yes or no answer. "Are you born again?" or "Do you know Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior and here are some of the answers I get: (1.) "I've been in church all of my life." (2.) "God knows my heart." (3.) "The Lord knows when I will be ready." (4.) "Yes, I have been baptized." None of these statements answer my question. (1.) It doesn't matter how long you have been in church. There are many faithful church goers whol have no personal relationship with the Lord. (2.) In Jeremiah 17:9, God says "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?" (3.) In response to God knowing when you are ready, Jesus said in John 7:6, "My time is not yet come: but your time is always ready." and (4.) In the Word of God, Baptism was an outward expression of an inward miracle (being born again) and this was only done after a person came to the knowledge of the truth, believed or accepted Jesus Christ. Acts 2:41 says, "Those who accepted the message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day."
Quoting John 3:3, Jesus answered and said unto them, "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." In paraphrase, unless you are born again, you cannot understand the things of God's word. Also in John 3:5, Jesus answered, "Verily, verily, I say unto thee except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." If we look at things like God looks at things, the Scriptures would be much more clearer. My main concern is to have everyone examine his or herself so there is no doubt when you stand before Jesus as to what side you are on. The battle line has been drawn since the dawn of time and it is time for you to make your decision as to whom you will serve. The word of God says in Joshua 24:15, "And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.
I hope and pray that you make a decision like my brother Joshua did at the end of the verse and choose Jesus -- if not for your sake, then at least for your house (your family). God lays it all on the line for you, and He loves you enough to allow you to choose Him or the Devil.
In His sevice,
Doanld DuPree |
