Gospel of John Chapter 3

Our Backyard, January 4, 2014: photo by Tammy C. Smith

"For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God sent the Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. He who believes in Him is not condemned; he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God." (John 3:16-18)."

This passage in John states very clearly why God sent His Son Jesus into the world: so that we may have eternal life. Jesus tried to explain this fact as candidly as possible to Nicodemus, a pharisee. "Are you not a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand this?" Jesus replies to him (John 3:10). It is really very simple, that which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit; choose the Light or choose the darkness, believe or don't believe. Once a person is introduced to the reality of Christ, the decision to accept Him is imperative for life in heaven.

John the Baptist repeats this message again at the end of John 3, "He who believes in the Son has eternal life; he who does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God rests upon him." 

Every day I become aware of events that happen in the news, in daily life, and in conversation with others that boggle my mind. Each time I hear that someone has been murdered, a home has been robbed, a child has been abused, a city has been terrorized, a bomb has exploded, a leader has fallen to sin, a teen has succumbed to drugs, ... my soul is shaken. But the stories of the atrocities of man are no more unique than they were in the time of Jesus. The news reporters love to make the most of the worst. People do not make headlines for acts of random kindness or for living holy lives. Giving up the flesh for the Spirit is not front page news for this world, but who can say what the headlines are in eternity? When one soul on Earth chooses Jesus Christ as their Savior, I believe there are angelic choirs in heaven rejoicing, bells resounding, parades of saints marching, and stars dancing in shows of brilliant light.

The winter scene in my backyard this morning after a night of freshly fallen snow was about as beautiful as it gets here in Western Pennsylvania. I have two bright red Adirondack chairs sitting under a towering butternut tree, now bare with white coated outstretched arms. The contrast of the stark red wood surrounded by the crystal white snow was picture perfect. As the sun streaked through the tree branches, the landscape was  illuminated in long graceful sweeping rays of light. The red chairs were ablaze in a fiery brilliance; searing under a diamond blanket of snow. The scene reminded me of the saving power of Christ, no matter how raw or how inflamed we are inside, we can be washed clean and healed by the luminous Light of the World. No wound, no scar, no sin, and no transgression is beyond the healing strength of Christ. He shines within us if we let Him, sanctifying us with His mercy each and every day!