September 5, 2018

Has Jesus Changed You?

Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.” – John 3:3

Nicodemus came to Jesus in the night. He was a Pharisee and we all know how the Pharisees viewed Jesus. Still, Nicodemus wanted to understand. How could someone already born be made new again?

Jesus went on to explain about how everyone must be born of the Spirit. The Holy Spirit. The gift that comes when we turn our lives over to Jesus. The gift that changes us from the inside out.

There are so many people who walk through their lives “knowing” Jesus. They live how they please. There’s no evidence of faith in their lives. Well, except for their Sunday morning piousness. But that’s more about show than it is about real faith.

It’s possible to know all about Jesus and still not really know Jesus. The demons know all about Jesus too. They’re still demons. They still don’t know Jesus as Lord and Savior. They still do evil.

What about you? How do people know you belong to Jesus? Is the evidence there in how you live your life? Are your words laced with kindness and honesty? Do your actions show you’re someone who cares, someone who grants mercy, someone who helps others in need?

Or is your faith all about the show? Maybe it’s more what you do than it is who you are. In the Deep South, what church you belong to is the first question newcomers face. It’s part of the fabric of life. It’s what makes us who we are.

What’s scary are how many people who take salvation for granted. They grow up in the church, passing each milestone with ease. They know how it’s done. They know what words to say. Whether they’re sprinkled or dunked, it’s more a right of passage than a genuine conversion.

I know. Shocking, isn’t it? I am amazed at how many people truly believe that baptism is what makes you a Christian. It isn’t. Faith, true faith, comes from within. It’s a heart condition. It’s something only God can see. But, as James notes, there should be evidence of your faith in how you live your life.

We are truly born again when our hearts change and become more like Jesus’ heart. We see people the way He did. We extend grace the way He did. We serve the way He did.

We also come to see ourselves for who we really are. We come to understand that we are lost without His blood. We truly worship Jesus for His sacrifice. We want to do good because we owe Him a debt we can never pay.

In other words, we change from the inside out. We become better people. What about you? Are you different because of Jesus? Do others see Him in you? Are you sure? Don’t wait until it’s too late to find out.