Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a
member of the Jewish ruling
council. He came to Jesus at night and said, "Rabbi, we know you are
a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform
the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him." In
reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of
God unless he is born again."
John 3:1-3
I can identify with Nicodemus the Pharisee. There was a time in my life when I was living by the golden rule of the world which is whatever works for you do it, but just don't get caught doing it. I thought I was a pretty good guy, working hard, paying taxes, partying, having fun and not hurting anyone (or so I thought). I was a latch key kid from the age of twelve due to my parents divorce which left me an angry young boy.
I finally got my own place at 18. Tom and Bob were my two best friends. We all liked fast cars (I owned a Z28 camero), rock n' roll, something to smoke, any kind of alcohol to drink and women.
I don't know how it all started for Bob but one day he didn't want to go to the bars and party with us anymore. Bob became "born again" in the basement of his parents house. I didn't understand it at first and was really mad to say it politely. I felt abandoned like when my parents split up. Yet he still would go for fast food with us and swimming, but just not all the other stuff. Tom and I tolerated him or better said, we tormented him and made fun of him.
Guess what happened about 6 months later? Tom shows up at work and the whole day he was avoiding me... When the day was over and I asked where we were going for beer and a show he told me he had accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior and wanted me to hang around with him and Bob, they were going to a bible study that night! I went to the bar alone, now twice as mad at Bob and Tom for leaving me. Still we hung out together (much less) but it was totally different in that I was the only one smokin' up and getting drunk. They were gracious and loved me, as much as I would ridicule them and taunt them in their new life.
Guess what happened about 6 months later? I came home early from work with a big fat pay cheque, a box of beer, a bag of smokes and sat down in my brand new living room, turned on my brand new television and ... in horror watched a little girl die. She was fromEthiopia, it was 1984 and the famine was at its height. World Vision was televising it and asking for money to feed and shelter the people. That program ended with a picture of this beautiful little girl with a grotesquely swollen stomach, coming into a relief camp looking for food, but it was too late, she was too far gone and he had died.
I sat forward in disbelief, and turned off my television. I remember asking God where were her parents? (remember how angry I was at my parents). Why couldn't I have helped her, I had so much. I was really angry...it was quiet for a few moments...I heard God speak to me..."Jeff, she is with me, don't worry about her anymore. Come follow me." I promise you if that I had looked behind me, I would have been looking into the face of Jesus. I broke and gave myself completely to Him.
Isaiah 43:3 "For I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior: I gave Egypt for your ransom, Ethiopia and Seba in exchange for you."
I called Tom a little later that day and he came right over but I wouldn't let him touch me because I knew they always liked to hug whoever was 'born again', I still didn't understand what that was all about and I was too tough to hug anybody. Straight away I was able to pour the beer down the toilet (I loved beer) and the same with the drugs (although that was harder to stay away from).
I have not looked back. Truly people would say "Jeff you have changed, we don't know you." The transformation was miraculous and I'm so thankful to God for saving me. I know I'm going to meet Jesus in heaven one day but I will also meet that beautiful Ethiopian girl that He used in my salvation.
How will you respond to Jesus words "...no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again"?
What will your salvation story read like?
John 3:1-3
I can identify with Nicodemus the Pharisee. There was a time in my life when I was living by the golden rule of the world which is whatever works for you do it, but just don't get caught doing it. I thought I was a pretty good guy, working hard, paying taxes, partying, having fun and not hurting anyone (or so I thought). I was a latch key kid from the age of twelve due to my parents divorce which left me an angry young boy.
I finally got my own place at 18. Tom and Bob were my two best friends. We all liked fast cars (I owned a Z28 camero), rock n' roll, something to smoke, any kind of alcohol to drink and women.
I don't know how it all started for Bob but one day he didn't want to go to the bars and party with us anymore. Bob became "born again" in the basement of his parents house. I didn't understand it at first and was really mad to say it politely. I felt abandoned like when my parents split up. Yet he still would go for fast food with us and swimming, but just not all the other stuff. Tom and I tolerated him or better said, we tormented him and made fun of him.
Guess what happened about 6 months later? Tom shows up at work and the whole day he was avoiding me... When the day was over and I asked where we were going for beer and a show he told me he had accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior and wanted me to hang around with him and Bob, they were going to a bible study that night! I went to the bar alone, now twice as mad at Bob and Tom for leaving me. Still we hung out together (much less) but it was totally different in that I was the only one smokin' up and getting drunk. They were gracious and loved me, as much as I would ridicule them and taunt them in their new life.
Guess what happened about 6 months later? I came home early from work with a big fat pay cheque, a box of beer, a bag of smokes and sat down in my brand new living room, turned on my brand new television and ... in horror watched a little girl die. She was fromEthiopia, it was 1984 and the famine was at its height. World Vision was televising it and asking for money to feed and shelter the people. That program ended with a picture of this beautiful little girl with a grotesquely swollen stomach, coming into a relief camp looking for food, but it was too late, she was too far gone and he had died.
I sat forward in disbelief, and turned off my television. I remember asking God where were her parents? (remember how angry I was at my parents). Why couldn't I have helped her, I had so much. I was really angry...it was quiet for a few moments...I heard God speak to me..."Jeff, she is with me, don't worry about her anymore. Come follow me." I promise you if that I had looked behind me, I would have been looking into the face of Jesus. I broke and gave myself completely to Him.
Isaiah 43:3 "For I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior: I gave Egypt for your ransom, Ethiopia and Seba in exchange for you."
I called Tom a little later that day and he came right over but I wouldn't let him touch me because I knew they always liked to hug whoever was 'born again', I still didn't understand what that was all about and I was too tough to hug anybody. Straight away I was able to pour the beer down the toilet (I loved beer) and the same with the drugs (although that was harder to stay away from).
I have not looked back. Truly people would say "Jeff you have changed, we don't know you." The transformation was miraculous and I'm so thankful to God for saving me. I know I'm going to meet Jesus in heaven one day but I will also meet that beautiful Ethiopian girl that He used in my salvation.
How will you respond to Jesus words "...no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again"?
What will your salvation story read like?
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