In his book, An Anthropologist on Mars, neurologist Oliver Sacks tells about Virgil, a man who had been blind from early childhood. When he was 50, Virgil underwent surgery and was given the gift of sight. But as he and Dr. Sacks found out, having the physical capacity for sight is not the same as seeing.
Virgil's first experiences with sight were confusing. He was able to make out colors and movements, but arranging them into a coherent picture was more difficult. Over time he learned to identify various objects, but his habits--his behaviors--were still those of a blind man. Dr. Sacks asserts, "One must die as a blind person to be born again as a seeing person. It is the interim, the limbo . . . that is so terrible."
To truly see Jesus and his truth means more than observing what he did or said, it means a change of identity.
Terry Seufferlein Norman, Oklahoma.
1 Peter 1:3,
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
“To be born again”
Let’s reflect on what it means to be born.
Biologically -- birth begins when two different kinds of cells meet in the mother’s womb.
The sperm and the egg -- basic biology.
These are TWO DIFFERENT kinds of biological substances, two different kinds of cells that have different kinds of DNA but they fuse together and that leads to BIRTH.
Spiritually -- Jesus told Nicodemus that we need rebirth-- not reform or resolution -- this is a QUALITATIVE things
The initiative is with God the Father
The power is the invisible power of the Holy Spirit
The basis of the birth is the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Spiritually the Bible emphasises that which is invisible. You will see this again and again!
So we get confused.
Especially men think that all this religious stuff is weird and vague, and we only want to be practical. It’s okay for women and children to believe all this supernatural Sunday school story stuff. It’s okay for poor people who don’t have money. Faith is for people who are sick or poor or mentally weak. Faith is for those who are unsuccessful but those who are actually real do everything independently.
Well, let me ask you about something called Air pollution.
Air pollution in Delhi became VISIBLE last Sunday -- the AQI went up to nearly 999 and above in some parts of NCR.
But was this the start of the air pollution?
Could your eyes and nose smell the pollution when it began?
Even if you can see the sun today, and you can see far away, is the air actually clean?
In other words -- what is the FINAL measure of Air pollution?
It’s a measurement called AQI by a meter than detects particles my eyes and nose cannot see.
Just as my nose or eyes cannot fully comprehend air pollution or even run away from it, this new birth is an invisible but GREAT mercy that God has imparted to us.
In other words -- what is REAL is NOT VISIBLE, Air pollution is Detected by expensive Air Quality Instruments that produce an AQI reading.
Air Pollution has long-term effects,
The Bible’s invisible measurement is that man NEEDS to be BORN Again -- and this happens INVISIBLY
Air pollution is invisible but has long term physical effects.
God’s new birth s also INVISIBLE rebirth
It also has LONG TERM effects -- we ARE spiritual creatures in God’s eyes.
The BIBLE is our meter for what is REAL -- NOT my eyes or nose or ears or even my mental believes. We believe AQI readings; we can believe the Bible.
Note :- From the Sermon notes - series on 1 Peter 1 by Dr. Anil Jacob for Crossway.
Stanley Thomas Isac
Stanley is serving as the Pastor of Crossway Church in New Delhi, he can be reached at stanleytisac@gmail.com
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