John 3:16 AMPC
[16] For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten (unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life.
There are times you come across a unique and special message and you know that the right response to it will change your life. This verse is one of such messages. Hoe did we get here? A man named Nicodemus came to Jesus at night, away from the prying crowd or the noisy bunch, as he had matters in his mind he wanted to unburden. He began with some bit of shyness or uncertainty, but Jesus went straight to the root of the matter. The need for salvation is critical to all men, no matter the circumstances of your birth or the current realities you are in. That was the first statement Jesus made to him: "unless a person is born again (anew, from above), he cannot ever see (know, be acquainted with, and experience) the kingdom of God". That is a definite statement that has no ambiguous explanation. There is a natural birth, and there is a significant second birth. Have you had an experience of that significant second birth?
All of us alive today are partakers of the natural birth, and by extension, will be part of the natural death, unless the Lord returns before natural death comes. Even then, the natural body will give way to that which is imperishable. How does a man experience both? The answer to this question, as well as any other concern, is laid out in the verse above. There is a love that predates the existence of man, where God wanted to make creatures that will praise and worship Him. By that same love, He made man in His image, and gave Him His breath, so there is a part of God in me. However, sin came, seeking to mess with that template, and disconnect man from his divine purpose, but this same love would not let go. Jesus holds out His love for us; His love remains for all of us, as long as we are in this natural body, and He will not let go until that which is natural gives way to the immortal.
In the verse above is the warning that we must all heed. Everything expires, even grace. The love of God has been there for all of man since the beginning of time, but as we have been told quite clearly, one day, all that we see today will be destroyed. Interestingly, as the verse above makes clear, all who reject the love of Jesus to the end of their natural lives will also perish. It may not be a comfortable message, but the Truth must not be made subject to convenience or comfort. We have been given the option to believe in Jesus as the way to avoid perishing. Jesus has not asked for value in currency or in possession; all He desires is the control of the heart from where all decisions and actions flow. If He is in charge there, He is in charge of the entire life. All who come to Jesus receive His kind of life. What are you waiting for? Time is of the essence. God's time of favour is here.
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