Born Again? How is that possible?

It’s been told to us that one must be born again to see the kingdom of God. “Huh, Jesus what are you talking about? I’m a grown man. I’m too big, and I just can’t put my mother through all that pain again, and she’s not around anymore anyway. Even if she was how would I get back into her womb anyway? Gads, that’s not only impractical, but it’s impossible. So how will I or anyone else be saved and enter into that kingdom of heaven. No way Jesus, there’s got to be a mistake here, a misunderstanding of some sort.”

So, Jesus re-stated the declaration: “That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.  Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again. Unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.” ^[1]

Okay, clarify that some more. Like I stated before: I’m a grown man weighing in at 175 pounds, nearly 6-feet tall with arms and legs and two-feet which sometimes struggle just to get me around.

“The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” ^]2]

“Oh, so watch the wind, eh?” I asked.  “All I know about the wind is that today it’s blowing in from the north heading south and yesterday it was coming from the west swirling around a bit heading toward the northeast. And that dag gone wind disturbs my golf shot. It causes hurricanes and tornadoes too disturbing all the homes we’ve built. Yeah, that’s all I know about the wind. It’s not predictable. This is really getting mysterious. Jesus, why don’t you make it easier for us simpletons to understand. Yeah, for sure, I would rather go to that peaceful place you call heaven when this body of mine wears out rather than into that fearful tortuous hell-fire, but requiring me to be born again?

“Alright, Listen closely.” Jesus tells me again. “You were once born of the flesh as your dad and mother enjoyed that wedding night when he planted a seed within your mother. You were once a seed and now after all these years you’ve grown into manhood with intelligence and the ability to make choices and yes, to impregnate your wife for her to provide you with sons and daughters. You’ve watched how a tiny seed grows into that beautiful flower, how that seed sends out roots to absorb nutrients and water sending the vine upwards into the air to receive heat and light from the sun and thus it grows mightily big, the vine expanding into branches and leaves that shed a shadow for you to sit under protecting your sensitive skin from sun-burn. Do you not understand how this all came about?”

“Well, sort of, but really it is a mystery to us earthlings how it could be done in just 6 days.”

“Yes”, Jesus answered and started to explain it a bit more. “It was done so we’d have friends on this earth of yours to fellowship with and to love. Really it was not that hard, my Father spoke it to be and it was done. He provided water and the wind. You can see water, and you feel the wind. You only see the wind bristling the branches of the tree tops and sending your golf ball into the creek, but you don’t really see the wind, do you?”

“No, I guess not.”

“But you do see the water, don’t you? You feel the coolness of the water when you go for a dip in the lake or pool, but you do not see the wind which represents the spirit. When you put your hand in the moving waters of a steam that water passes your fingers once and that water is gone downstream as different waters now pass over your hand. You feel the wind whipping your head of hair as it comes and goes. When you stand in your shower the water from above passes over your head, down your cheeks, over your shoulders, your backside, your belly and, yes those parts your ancestors covered in shame, over your legs and down through your toes and out the drain cleansing your body sending the fleshly accumulated dirt into the pits never to be seen again, washed clean. That dirt is gone.”

“Come now and be baptized just as John poured the water over my head baptizing me and then the spirit came upon me.” ^[3]

“The second part is being born of the spirit which I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another comforter, ^[4] another helper, another guide, yes that spirit of truth that will abide with you working within you as it blows away the fears, the doubts, the ways of the world, the dark clouds hiding the truth, the wind swirling around exposing myths built upon sand. Your inner soul gets cleansed setting you free blowing away the shifting sands, so you can build your dwelling on solid rock, on solid ground becoming one of my branches reaching out to others.”

“A new commandment I give to you: to love one another as I have loved you. ^[5]  You did not choose me, but I have come into this world to choose you as my friend, not as a servant, but as a beloved friend being trusted with these truths for you to share with those that come near your path, and that’s why all this is being revealed to you.”

“Come now and enter into the Kingdom of My Father prepared for you from the foundation of the world.” ^[6]

[1] John 3:6   That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

[2] John 3:8   The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.

[3] Matthew 3:13-17

[4] John 14:16

[5] John 13:34-35   A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

[6] Matthew 25:34

Author: Arnold R. Kropp

About Mr. Arnold. Back in the days when I was a kid growing up in south Chicago, freely roaming around the neighborhood was common, and just a part of life in the late '40s and early '50s. A train track was less than a mile away and a favorite place to walk along the rails. A large city park was a bit closer with areas of dense trees and areas of open grassy picnic grounds. A public golf course was just two blocks away, but the famed 4-lane busy Western avenue had to be crossed to get to it, and we crossed in the middle of the block running between the cars and trucks. We knew the risks. In the winters, we would climb that fence making our way to one of the ponds, we’d push and shovel away the snow and play a spontaneous game of hockey, or bring a sled and slide down the hillside ; no adults, no special padding, just a group of kids enjoying the contest. Dad was at work. Mom was home tending to the laundry and preparing the family meal for promptly at 6 pm. Life was good. It was fun. Sunday mornings were dress up in suit and tie, polished shoes for Sunday school and the worship service, then to a restaurant. Arnold went on to college immediately after high school, but could not find a subject, a major that was really up his alley, so he enlisted in the Army and served in Germany during the years the Berlin wall was built. Seeing what effects Soviet communism had on the people of East Germany left an impression on him. During those years, he would write many long letters home starting a desire to write more than just letters. Many years later Arnold developed a blog where he posted hundreds of articles on the political side of American life. Some of those are available in the collection named "Ramblings". Today, Society is totally different from that of the '50s, a whole lot different. Today, it has become scary to let the kids roam. Today it has become organized to the hilt with 2nd graders playing organized football. In my present relatively quiet neighborhood, I do see kids walking the streets, but there is a difference as the kids seem to be apprehensive and on guard or intently operating a telephone as they walk, not running after each other playing hide and seek. Today, the above freedoms of the '50s are suspect and avoided as being dangerous activities. And that is sad. It's sad that today's kids do not have that freedom, and it may be having a direct effect on their development. Consider, one fact that is readily apparent today compared to yesterday; the preponderance of overweight and obese kids, even pre-school kids are heavier than we were, and this has to be affecting the rest of their daily lives. No doubt about it. But, I'd better hush, can't talk about those things. Yes, in the '50s there were Semi-trucks, public transportation, murders, rape, robberies, house fires, sickness and diseases resulting in death, and yes, there were deadly vehicle accidents too. There was even poverty and homosexuals too. We went to public schools, and the high school was integrated. This was Chicago, but those events did not make the headlines, as news was only broadcast at 6pm and possibly 10pm nightcap. Days of the cold war kept us together as a nation. We saw the "Victory at Sea" war clips before the main feature at the theaters. And now technology dominates life. A cell phone in every handy pocket posting selfies. A computer saving everything to one of those cumulous clouds. Room size TV’s broadcasting everything 24/7. This is more information than I want. Let me decide something. I think. therefore, I am. I was born a male, therefore I am. I was born-again, therefore I am. I have life within, therefore I am. The news is not my guide. The TV is not my Sheppard. View all posts by Arnold R. Kropp