Encountering an extraordinary God in ordinary life
Issue # 233 August 18, 2001
DRAGONFLIES AND OTHER SCARY THINGS

As I walked the dog yesterday, I watched the dragonflies skim the lake shore. Quick, graceful and beautiful, they were a joy to watch.

I didn’t always feel that way. I remember as a child being terrified of them. I think it was the name, dragon-fly.

The association with dragons was a powerful one in my mind. Dragons are fire breathing, man eating, flying reptiles, or so the legends and stories say.

In my mind dragonflies were fierce, biting, dangerous insects. Creatures that you wanted nothing to do with. Ironic, when you learn that they cannot even bite as adults.

It’s amazing what our minds will do, the way we make associations.

For an example think of the image the world (and even many Christians if they are honest) have of the term BORN AGAIN CHRISTIAN.

Before becoming one myself, (and I praise God that I did) the term meant some narrow minded, slightly dull, pushy, religious nut case. There was absolutely nothing attractive about the term born again. If someone was a born again Christian, I simply wanted nothing to do with them.

Yet the simple truth is that all true believers in Jesus Christ are born again. It’s nothing weird or frightening. We don’t all fit the stereotype.

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. "

"How can a man be born when he is old?" Nicodemus asked. "Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb to be born!"

Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, `You must be born again.' The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit."

John 3:1-8 NIV

If you accept Jesus as Lord and Saviour, you are born again.

For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God 1 Peter 1:23 NIV

The next time you think of born again Christians, remember the one who gave you new life and be proud to bear the name.

I boast on Jesus name and am proud to be saved by His grace and wear the label Born Again Christian.

Until next time, may you to rejoice in your new birth.

God bless.

Kevin

If you have never been born again and wonder what this relationship with Jesus stuff is about, email me. I’ll share a few Bible verses that explain why it is important and a prayer that will make it possible.