Today we are having new laminate flooring installed in our home... again. So, after replacing our 20-year old laminate flooring with new flooring, having a flood ruin the new flooring, we are finally getting our new new flooring put in... three months later!
As I sit here at my computer and draft this blog, listening to the sounds of the crew installing the new flooring, it reminds me of when we are born again. When we accept the call to receive Jesus into our heart as our Lord and Savior, it should be a life-changing, life-long commitment. We become new, or born again. Our sins are washed away and all of our past transgressions (sins) are forgiven. We are no longer condemned to die for our sins because Jesus paid the debt for us.
God knows we will continue to sin for the rest of our lives, but that will not condemn us either. All we have to do is confess our sins to him, ask for his forgiveness, and repent (turn away) of those sins, and he forgives us.
But ask yourself this hard question because only God and you know the real answer. Let's say you went to church one Sunday as a non-Christian, for example, and the pastor asked if anyone wanted to receive Jesus into their hearts and be born again. If you raised your hand, prayed to receive Jesus, and then returned to your old way of sinful living Monday through Saturday, did you really become new? Were you truly born again, or did you simply respond out of emotion to a good message from the pastor?
Some people get born again every Sunday. I call that getting born again again. That causes me to question their understanding of receiving Jesus into their heart and accepting his forgiveness. Receive him into your heart and accept the fact that he will never leave you or forsake you. Just don't leave him or forsake him!
Jesus is Lord and Savior. You need to become a new person and your life should be forever changed and reflect that you are different because of your new life with him. Do not return to your old sinful ways. If you stumble, pick yourself up and get back on the path. He will not condemn you for that. If you have walked away return to him. He is there waiting for you.
John 14:6 (NLT) - Jesus told him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me."