Ye Must Be Born Again

         January 1977 was the year of the inauguration of President Jimmy Carter.  While attending Washington Bible College, we took advantage of such occasions and went down to Washington, D. C. to pass our tracts to the crowd of people that had come togethert for the inauguration.  I remember it was cold that day and I layered my clothes to keep warm.  We were armed with plenty of tracts that had been specially printed for the event.  The tracts were tastefully done and had the gospel message inside.  Basically, it was imploring people to be "born again."  In 1974 and 1975, Charles Colson found himself in prison and soon the book would come out with the blazing title, "Born Again."  People began using the title in their talk shows and in print even though they did not understand all of the message of being "born again."  Over two thousand years ago, the term was used in a nightly meeting between Nicodemus and the Lord Jesus Christ.   John 3:3 says, "Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." 
      The statement that is made in this one sentence is profound and everyone should understand what it means.  It is the most basic thoughts in Christianity.  If a person is going to see the Kingdom of God at all, they must be born again.  In other words, if a person is going to find heaven as their final destination, then they have to be born again.  The Scriptures give the positive side of Christianity.  Some feel at this point that they do not desire to be born again, either that there is no such thing as being born again or that they will take their chances with whatever come up in their own journey to the end of life.  Scripture does point out however that there will be a judgment  and that you will either have your name in the Lamb's Book of Life or you will be judged by the evidence that is in the "books."    The books contain everything you ever did and the absence of being "born again" will be evident and cause your judgment to be sure and swift.  The discussion between the Lord Jesus Christ and Nicodemus is so important for all people today.  The same statement is still valid for today.  The people in the office building need to be born again.  The people on the busy avenue need to be born again.  The people in the United Nations need to be born again.  The people in Rome, Paris, Washington, D. C., New York, Moscow and San Francisco need to be born again.  In other words, the people of the world need to be born again.  You need to be born again.  Praise God for the New Birth.