"The
wind flows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it,
but do not know where it comes from and where it is going;
so is everyone who is born of the Spirit" (John 3:8)
You may not agree,
but I think the weather forecasters are doing better these
days - sometimes they actually know where the wind will
be coming from and where it is going. But, of course, other
times they don’t know, and all too often, dangerous winds
like cyclones, hurricanes and typhoons end up where the
experts don’t expect them to be.
Frequently, whether
we are in Christ or not, people can be like monstrous typhoons
in judging other people. Sometimes our judgments are correct.
Disturbingly often they are NOT correct, and many have done
harm to the lives of others just because they don’t like
them. It’s especially dangerous to judge those who may be
led by the Spirit of God. It’s dangerous not only for the
person whose life might be damaged, but it is also risky
for us – God judges those who harm His little ones.
I have often thought
that if we knew the judgmental thoughts of those around
us, we couldn’t stand it and would be very upset and could
even die because the information would be so unsettling.
The thoughts of people tend to be quite negative and God
"knows the secrets of the heart"
(Psalm 44:21), but amazingly He loves us, anyway! Justice
and love are contagious, attitudes that are “caught” from
God by His people. Oswald Chambers said, “Never
look for justice in this world, but never cease to give
it.” And it’s GOD who creates justice in us.
The way of the world
can be hard; but something remarkable happens when we are
in Christ. As indicated in John 3:8, we are no longer a
part of this world system at all, and can no longer be judged
by those who are. They no longer "know
where (we) come from and where
(we) are going," a truth about
everyone who is born of the Spirit of God.
All our lives we
have been ruled by the habits and judgments of others (we
have copied them); but when we are in Christ all that should
change. We must let go of simply imitating the behavior
of others, and let ourselves be made into the image of God.
We are to "let go and let God",
and be "born again" (John 3:3)
which is to be "born of the Spirit"
(John 3:6), as Jesus told Nicodemus in our Scripture for
today. We are no longer just creatures of this world – we
have become alive in another way altogether.
We can see conformity
to this world in a variety of ways. Abused children incredibly
tend to copy brutal parents and grow up to become abusers.
We carefully emulate the speech, mannerisms, and dress of
those around us, even when we don’t know we are doing it.
We copy the ways of others in this world so carefully that
others often cannot tell whether we of the Church are in
Christ or not. All too often we act just like everybody
else! In Church, we lift our hands just so, and we quickly
learn when to kneel and/or to stand. Our eyes are closed
at just the right time and we know the correct words to
say. There are certain "buzz-words" in prayer and we are
proficient in them.
We need to be DIFFERENT
as the Spirit leads us. Nicodemus was a member of the Sanhedrin.
He was a leader among the religious elite of Israel, but
he had no clue about responding to God. We see this in John
3:9, where he asked Jesus, "How can
these things (the things of the Spirit)
be?" Those of the Church, whether
"laity" or "clergy", often don’t have a clue, either. We
SHOULD, but all too often many just don’t know.
Blindly following
the habit patterns of others will only end in legalism,
and it will take away our peace. We aren’t to copy people
anymore; instead we are to follow the Spirit of God. And
it’s simple to do – just turn to God right now, ask His
forgiveness, look to Him, trust in Him, and He WILL direct
your paths. He DOES know where you are going.
From an outward
perspective, Nicodemus (John 3) had it all together. He
was like a bishop in the modern Church, an important leader.
The people looked to him as God’s representative, and he
was expected to know the answers. He didn’t, except in one
key area – Unlike most of his religious contemporaries,
he was willing to go to the Lord and admit that he didn’t
know. Are you willing to admit to God that you don’t know
it all? Nicodemus was open about his lack, and he was selected
as one of the two men in history given the honor of receiving
Christ’s body and preparing it for burial (John 19:39-40).
We of the Church
are supposed to have the answers, but when we are honest,
most often we don’t know what is needed. In the months before
the time I completed college, I met with officials of Churches
in an attempt to discover God’s direction for my life. I
found to my surprise (and concern) that the men I met with
often did not know about God’s direction any more than I
did. Many of them had high positions (like Nicodemus) but
they had little to offer in relation to my need.
During one appointment,
a bishop in a large denomination asked me why I wanted to
enter the ministry and I told him of God’s call on my life.
I then asked why HE had entered the ministry, and he told
of a childhood struggle to choose an appropriate profession.
“Should I become a doctor?”
he had wondered... “An attorney?...
A minister?” We must not be
ruled by our wishes, even when they seem logical, but rather
we are to be sent by the Holy Spirit of God, and when we
are sent by Him, we are no longer in the sphere of this
world, but are moved into God’s will for our lives.
It is not an easy
decision to follow God. Foxe’s "Book
of Martyrs" is an excellent study of the lives of
many who chose to follow the Lord, even to death. In our
place and time, we might experience the death of reputation,
or find literal death, depending on what part of the world
we live in. There is indeed risk in following Christ. But
to follow the Lord is to lay our treasures up in heaven,
as Jesus told us, instead of pursuing the temporary satisfactions
of this earth. You enter a new KIND of life, led by the
Spirit of God. To lose your reputation is to lose nothing,
because God is your judge, not men. To lose your life is
gain, because you will be with Him – forever. Take the risk
and follow God.
Lord, we don’t
really know how to follow You. We just come to You right
now, and confess our lack of understanding. Forgive us,
dear God. Send us Your Spirit – we don’t know what to do
without You. We surrender, Lord. We want You with all our
hearts. Save us Lord, and fill us with Your Holy Spirit.
In Jesus Name. Amen.
