SCRIP-BITS

Oh Friends, it seems like today will be a snowy day in my neck of the woods, for the white stuff has been coming down on and off for the last few hours. But once it’s not a storm of epic proportions, I believe most of us have the wherewithal to handle it. That is the exact light in which I want to view our Bit; if we know the truth, then it’s much easier to handle the situation. And there was no more definitive word from Jesus than this: ‘Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again (from above), he cannot see the kingdom of God.’ There it is in black and white Friends, the long and short of the whole story! Poor Nicodemus must have been stunned to hear such an unorthodox, physically impossible comment. He was one of the few Pharisee leaders who recognized God’s presence in Jesus and stealthily came to Him by night to find out the real truth of the situation. And that was the answer he got. But what amazes me is Nico’s opening statement to Jesus: ‘Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles (signs) that thou doest, except God be with him.’ (John 3:2) So if you know that, why not pay serious attention to Him? Weren’t you supposed to be the keeper and director of God’s kingdom on earth? Why try to get rid of Him simply because He was messing with the good thing you had going, using the Law of Moses to brow beat the people, to keep them in poverty while enriching yourself and increasing your political power? And don’t tell me that Nico and Joseph of Arimathea were the only ones of the Jewish elders and rulers who sensed that there was something truly godly about Jesus. If so, the whole lot should have been tarred and feathered! This leads me to believe that God hardened their hearts, just like He did Pharaoh’s, so that His great plan of redemption would go off as designed. If they had readily received Him as the Messiah, things obviously would have evolved differently, with possibly no Sacrificial Death, no Resurrection and consequently no Ascension. In other words, no redemption of sin, no salvation or eternal life, but still only eternal darkness and separation from the Lord God Jehovah. And yuh know Friends, is only yesterday, after talking about eternal separation from God, that the real magnitude of that situation really struck home. We casually talk about heaven and hell, everlasting life and eternal darkness with Lucifer, but it’s only when we consider the situation in terms of not having any contact with our Creator and heavenly Father again, that the disastrous tragedy of it all really sinks in. Down here on earth we have a choice to be either of God’s body or not. But if we unfortunately end up in the darkness with Lucifer, then crapaud truly smoke we pipe, for there’s no contact whatsoever with the Most High. Now isn’t that a most frightening idea mih people? It sure is! And that’s why Jesus’ answer to Nico’s statement is so profound, and needs to be readily accepted for fear of losing all contact with our most merciful, forgiving, ever-LOVING, kind, generous and protective God. And I’m sure glad that the true significance was finally brought home to me. I sure hope all you readers get it too because it determines your life in the hereafter. I know some of us, like Nico, will also ponder and question: ‘How can a man be born again when he is old? Can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?’ (John 3:4) But Jesus meant a spiritual rebirth, not a physical one. And I surmise that was a big part of the problem the Jews encountered with acceptance of the Messiah. For whatever reason, they got it into their heads that the Messiah’s coming would be a big, physical event, one of pomp and glory, instead of the spiritual renaissance that actually came. Thus Jesus’ answer to Nico: ‘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. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.’ (John 3:5-6) And all God’s people shouted a loud: ‘Hallelujah! Amen!’ Yes Friends, that last verse is very logical. (smile) But that’s enough for us to ponder today. God willing, we’ll continue in this same vein tomorrow. And I hope you all have noticed that for 2011, I’m trying to keep the individual Bits as short as possible, so that the too long complaint can be exorcised. (smile) And they all cheered in unison: ‘Praise the Lord!’ Till tomorrow then, walk safely with the Creator. Much LOVE!…to get to heaven…two births are necessary…a physical; born of woman in sin…and a spiritual; through acceptance of  Christ Jesus as Lord and Saviour…