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Why I Am Born Again - September 09, 2006
"Jesus answered him, "Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born again." John 3:1-5
In a previous Daily Wisdom article, I wrote about what it means to be "born again." I chose that topic because there seemed to be a definite lack of understanding, even amongst fellow Believers, as to what the term meant, and the fact that Christ calls us to be born again in the Bible.
In keeping with similar subject matter, I would like to take this topic one step further, and share with you why I became born again.
While I was raised believing in God, even attending private faith-based elementary and secondary schooling, and can't recall a time in my life I didn't believe in God and His Son, Jesus Christ, the denomination my parents chose for me at birth was no longer a good fit for me as a (young) adult. While I respected their right to chose as they deemed suitable, and am very thankful for the spiritual foundation they had provided me, my personal spiritual path took me on a journey of my own. However, it was not leaving one denomination and entering in to another which made me born again. That was something occurring within my own heart.
My thirst for spiritual truth was causing me to want to reach higher and look deeper. I wanted to be a better person; to be more pleasing in God's sight. While I don't recall the exact moment or actual words spoken, the basic sentiment I am trying to convey is that I made a conscious decision to make Christ number one in my life. This would require change and action.
Everything was going better than wonderfully, and then, several years later, and by my own wrongful choices, began to take a severe nose-dive. I speak in detail about what was then my drug and alcohol dabbling period in my book, "Ecstatic Living/Ecstatic Loving: A marriage manual and life-guide." In brief, when I moved by myself to the other side of the country, I got caught up in an unhealthy and fast-paced lifestyle I was not prepared to deal with, and which nearly killed me. Upon hitting rock bottom, I thankfully had enough wits about me to realize the need for a serious transformation. It finally sunk in that I was living the life of a hypocrite; attempting to mix godliness with ungodliness. As such, I needed to transform and recommit, and that is exactly what I did.
I know people who experienced this rebirth once in their lives, and I also am familiar with individuals who have similar experience to my own, and for one reason or another, (slow learners?), have more than one major transformation event. My own reason for being born again was that I quite simply needed it. I didn't like the life choices I was making, who I was becoming, and where I was heading. Life seemed so shallow, and I wanted to not only find its meaning, but to live the life we are called here to live. Long ago, God gave me a glimpse of the bigger picture, and from then on, I wanted more. I wanted to 'be' more.
If you want more too, I encourage you to call out to God today, and be reborn in your spirit, so that you may live that awesome life God has in store for you!
Contributed by Melanie Schurr (Copyright (c)2005 Melanie Schurr) Melanie Schurr is author of "Ecstatic Living: A Christian marriage manual and Life-guide", "Son Salutations" and "Daily Contemplations", which are a collection of read-one-a-day modern inspirations. For more information, visit www.MelanieSchurr.com
"Jesus answered him, "Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born again." John 3:1-5
In a previous Daily Wisdom article, I wrote about what it means to be "born again." I chose that topic because there seemed to be a definite lack of understanding, even amongst fellow Believers, as to what the term meant, and the fact that Christ calls us to be born again in the Bible.
In keeping with similar subject matter, I would like to take this topic one step further, and share with you why I became born again.
While I was raised believing in God, even attending private faith-based elementary and secondary schooling, and can't recall a time in my life I didn't believe in God and His Son, Jesus Christ, the denomination my parents chose for me at birth was no longer a good fit for me as a (young) adult. While I respected their right to chose as they deemed suitable, and am very thankful for the spiritual foundation they had provided me, my personal spiritual path took me on a journey of my own. However, it was not leaving one denomination and entering in to another which made me born again. That was something occurring within my own heart.
My thirst for spiritual truth was causing me to want to reach higher and look deeper. I wanted to be a better person; to be more pleasing in God's sight. While I don't recall the exact moment or actual words spoken, the basic sentiment I am trying to convey is that I made a conscious decision to make Christ number one in my life. This would require change and action.
Everything was going better than wonderfully, and then, several years later, and by my own wrongful choices, began to take a severe nose-dive. I speak in detail about what was then my drug and alcohol dabbling period in my book, "Ecstatic Living/Ecstatic Loving: A marriage manual and life-guide." In brief, when I moved by myself to the other side of the country, I got caught up in an unhealthy and fast-paced lifestyle I was not prepared to deal with, and which nearly killed me. Upon hitting rock bottom, I thankfully had enough wits about me to realize the need for a serious transformation. It finally sunk in that I was living the life of a hypocrite; attempting to mix godliness with ungodliness. As such, I needed to transform and recommit, and that is exactly what I did.
I know people who experienced this rebirth once in their lives, and I also am familiar with individuals who have similar experience to my own, and for one reason or another, (slow learners?), have more than one major transformation event. My own reason for being born again was that I quite simply needed it. I didn't like the life choices I was making, who I was becoming, and where I was heading. Life seemed so shallow, and I wanted to not only find its meaning, but to live the life we are called here to live. Long ago, God gave me a glimpse of the bigger picture, and from then on, I wanted more. I wanted to 'be' more.
If you want more too, I encourage you to call out to God today, and be reborn in your spirit, so that you may live that awesome life God has in store for you!
Contributed by Melanie Schurr (Copyright (c)2005 Melanie Schurr) Melanie Schurr is author of "Ecstatic Living: A Christian marriage manual and Life-guide", "Son Salutations" and "Daily Contemplations", which are a collection of read-one-a-day modern inspirations. For more information, visit www.MelanieSchurr.com
