Louise Gevers
“For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable …” 1 Peter 1:23
Born again; a new beginning. Imperishable seed; what an astounding thought!
Not everyone finds this notion easy to grasp, as we see in Nicodemus asking Jesus how a man could return to his mother’s womb; (John 3:4) but how many people have said that they would love to have the chance to start their lives over again, and not make the same mistakes?
True followers of Christ have been born again, not in the physical sense, but spiritually, and have had their lives turned around, some dramatically, as they start again. This radiant new life comes because Jesus provides what was missing – the living water of His Spirit. He says, “...but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life." (John 4:14)
It’s all about the water – it must be living! We are born into this world through the perishable seed of our parents for a limited time; but it is through the imperishable seed of the Lord Jesus Christ that we’re born again into eternal life.
From childhood God prepares us to understand this vital concept, and many others, through clues in nature. Who has not been amazed that a beautiful plant grows from a tiny, dry seed, or delighted by the beautiful butterfly that emerges through the life-cycle of the caterpillar? Who has not been depressed to see everything dying without water?
Yet God is at work even in times of drought! I’ve been astounded by the resilience of my garden to the drought we’re experiencing. I’d planted many plants last year and watched in dismay as they started to shrivel, and the grass turned brown and crunchy underfoot due to the shortage of rain and our no longer being permitted to water our gardens. I had even started removing some when, miraculously, a few showers arrived. Amazingly, some that were brown and dry suddenly started sprouting green shoots and revived, while others that were still green produced flowers that I had never seen before! Doesn’t our marvellous Creator always give us hope?
He shows us that what He sees and does is on a completely different level to us. We see the dead shrub; He sees the life potential that a few showers can bring about. We see the dead body being lowered into the ground – He sees the spirit transformed into something beautiful forever!
Prayer: Loving Father, open my eyes to see how truly great You are! Fill me afresh with Your living water that brings me eternal life. Amen