“No one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.” John 3:3 (NIV)
Before Nicodemus can get any further Jesus interrupts him, stops him dead in his tracks… “No one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again” (3:3).
This is an extraordinary statement. If you are going to see God and live in the glory of his eternal rule, if the joys of heaven are to be yours, here is what must happen, not only for you, but for every person who has ever lived—You must be born again!
Imagine that you spend your whole life building a house. The house is a life project for you. You build it from the foundation up—every nail, every screw. You go for quality in everything you choose: Fixtures, fittings, draperies. Everything that is in that house is a reflection of you and your commitment to excellence.
The house is your joy. It reflects your craftsmanship, your style, and your values. It is the fruit of your labor over years, as you have continued to make improvements, incorporating new ideas.
Then one day you meet a master builder. You have read about his work in magazines, so you invite him to come over and look at your house. You want to know if there is anything that he would do differently—change some fittings, move the deck… perhaps even open up a wall. What could he suggest that would make your house even better?
He comes in and he’s very quiet. He looks around, shakes his head and says, “This is a tear-down.” That’s devastating… A tear-down? I’ve put my life into this house!
What do you hear in Jesus’ words?
