Real Life
by Pastor Bill Pevlor
A recent survey revealed a majority
of
Americans claim to be born-again Christians. If, in fact, the majority of
Americans were true, born-again Christians the moral complexion of this nation
would be significantly different. Christian morals would garner more respect and
prominence in our culture. And,
certainly, there would be a clear distinction between born-again believers and
the rest of the world.
A real, born-again experience will radically change you. The moral
indiscretions that you once winked at, even participated in, will no longer be
acceptable. Being born-again is an experience of actually receiving new life. 2
Corinthians 5:17 says, “…if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation;
old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” The
“old things” that once appealed to your sinful nature lose their appeal. The
new life – the life of Christ – replaces it. Too many people, for whatever
reason, believe they are born-again but lack the evidence of the “new life”
that results from a true born-again experience.
When Jesus infuses you with His life, your new life (your born-again
life) will be radically different from the old. There are a few stories in the
Bible of Jesus imparting new life to people that will help make my point. The
first involves a man and his dying daughter found in Mark, chapter 5 and Luke,
chapter 8.
Jairus, a ruler from the synagogue, begged Jesus to go to his home and
heal his daughter. On the way to the home, word came that the girl had died.
When they arrived, the daughter was, in fact, dead. But Jesus took her by the
hand and said, “My child, get up!” The scriptures say, “Her
spirit returned and at once she stood up. Then Jesus told them to give her
something to eat.”
A person who has received the new life Jesus has for them will be hungry.
Not for physical food, but spiritual food and fellowship. I’ve heard many
people testify to experiencing a great hunger for the Word of God following
their salvation experience. Their appetite for the word was insatiable. They
also had a hunger for fellowship with other believers. A strong appetite is a
sign of life. Dead people don’t eat. The life of Christ creates a strong
appetite for His Word and His people.
There was another time when Jesus came upon a funeral procession; found
in Luke, chapter 7. Jesus walked over to the dead man. The Bible says “…he
went up and touched the coffin, and those carrying it stood still. He said,
“Young man, I say to you, get up!” The dead man sat up and began to
talk…” This man was silent until Jesus infused him with new life. He
once was real dead and then he had real life! What do you suppose this
“born-again” man talked about? Why, Jesus, of course! Dead people don’t
talk, but it’s hard to keep a person with the life of Christ in them quiet
about the experience.
Finally, there’s the story of Lazarus; the dear friend of Jesus’ that
died. The story in the gospel of John tells us that Lazarus was not only dead
but also in the tomb for four days when Jesus arrived. Jesus instructed them to
remove the huge stone that sealed the tomb. The Bible says after praying, “Jesus
called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” The dead man came out, his
hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus
said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.” Jesus wanted
them to remove the burial clothes, which, no doubt, smelled of death. You can be
sure, Lazarus didn’t want anything to do with the clothes that smelled of his
former death. On the other hand, a dead person could care less. A person who has
come from death to real life is repulsed by any remnants of death. For the
born-again believer, the grave clothes represent the past life of sin that
stinks of death. A person with new life wants to be as far away as possible from
the stinking remnants of their old life of sin; the equivalent to spiritual
death.
Someone
who claims to be “born-again,” and yet, doesn’t show signs of true life is
suspect. Show me a person who is not hungry for the Word of God and fellowship
with other believers, who never talks about Jesus and who doesn’t want to lay
aside the old “grave clothes” of their past sinful life, and I’ll show you
a person who has not truly been born-again. They are still dead. They can claim
to be anything they like, but the life of Christ is not in them.
The
good news from God’s Word is that “death” does not have to be final. Jesus
desires you to be truly born-again, to have His life. If you’ve not received
His life, if the old hasn’t passed away and all things have become new, then
ask Jesus for the life only He possesses; life to be born-again. Then satisfy
your hunger by reading the Bible and hanging out with other born-again
believers. Tell others of the life of Jesus in you and leave the past life of
sin behind.
Victorious
Faith Ministries
219 State Street, Algoma, WI 54201
Phone: 920-487-5775
©2001 Victorious Faith Ministries