More on John 3:8 Christians

My guess is that it was about 18 months ago the Holy Spirit illuminated John 3:8 so we came to understand this was not simply a random verse (as if there really were such a thing) in the midst of a conversation Jesus was having with a Biblical scholar. John 3:8-The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from or where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit., is presented by Jesus as the norm for a person who has been born again. This is the norm, not the exception! There are at least two levels higher. This is entry level. We will be right back to that.

The world does not, cannot, understand those who are born of the Spirit. I received an interesting comment yesterday, from a man I have had a professional relationship with for the past few years. I had updated him on what we are doing and our vision for the future. He embraced most of the concepts and as we were parting he said, "You are a very interesting man." I said I would take that as a compliment. He assured me it was intended that way. What he was communicating to me is that he did not exactly understand where I was coming from or where I was going, or at least he did not understand what motivated me. I respect this man, his general attitude, and his professional abilities, but from previous conversations, I know he is not born of the Spirit. He cannot be expected to understand my motivations.

Those born of the Spirit do what the Spirit directs them to do. Of course we all have fleshly parts so we are not "on" 100% of the time. We just keep trying to get it right. What the Holy Spirit directs does not always make sense to our rational minds initially. However, it will always make sense untimately if we follow the direction.

We said John 3:8 is entry level stuff. There are at least two levels higher. The first level is a Revelation 12:11 Christian who, "...did not love their lives to the death."

Before I finish that thought, I have to tell you what just happened because it is kind of how my life has been going lately. I wrote the first part of the previous paragraph, but did not have time to look up the verse before I left the house to run a few errands. Standing in line at one place I looked at the tee shirt the young man ahead of me was wearing and it said, "And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony" Revelation 12:11. I immediately recognized that as the first half of the verse quoted above. Okay, back to the point.

I know people who think they would like to be done with this world and spend the rest of eternity in the heavenly kingdom. Maybe my theology is not as good as theirs or who knows, but I am just not ready to die yet. I am not afraid of dying, but I would rather not. In fact if I knew where I am going to die, I would avoid that place at all costs. So perhaps I am getting close to John 3:8, but Revelation 12:11 is still too much of a reach for this feeble mind. But wait, there is more.

Hebrews Chapter 11 is all about faith. You can read it yourself for context if you need a refresher. After giving a brief definition and explanation of faith, the author writes what is commonly referred to as "The roll call of faith." He comments on the faith of people throughout the Bible. He writes of the things they endured for the faith. Then we come to verse 38, of whom the world was not worthy. The world was not worthy? I did not write that. I quoted it.

Those folks lived with such a vision and revelation of God's eternal kingdom that whatever happened to them while they were on earth simply did not matter. That is way beyond me. Because of that attitude, the world was not worthy of them. The world could not understand them, death was an event in an eternal life, and they lived lives that made all others seem insignificant by comparison.

Of course you know I cannot quit without encouraging everyone who reads these words to examine his or her manner of living to determine what kind of life you are living. I used to be young and now I am, well, sort of old. I believe I am doing a better job of living a life pleasing to God than I have in the past. It certainly is not a perfect life. I suppose the world is still worthy of me so I will keep trying and learning and getting better at it by God's grace. Now I think I am done. God bless.