Talking with a father and son the other night, I mentioned that I worked
for Coca Cola when the NEW Coke came out. Both were too young to remember, and
only got confused when I told the story of how we now have Classic Coke, which
really was the original Coke before NEW Coke came out and failed on that fateful
Black Tuesday. They had always had Coke Classic, so that was all there was, and
still is. At least to them. Today we find classic rock stations playing songs
so frequent I don’t listen. When is the last time you heard anything from Side
1 of The Doors album? Any ELP? Todd Rundgren? How about The Beach Boys, The
Kinks, Jefferson Airplane, Quicksilver, or any of the other true classic rock
groups? Yet like Classic Coke, so many have never heard of the original, and
think what they are listening to are true classics. But are so far from it. So
as I sit night after night, with 200 channels to choose from, and nothing on TV,
I am at least thankful for the remote control. When is the last time you got up
and walked across the room and changed the channel? Would you be willing to do
it 200 times in frustration? Maybe technology was a good thing, and it has just
gone on too long.
But in the midst of our selections we find Nick at Night. Which at one
time played great old shows, classics by any definition. Shows like Leave it to
Beaver, Get Smart, My Three Sons, Father Knows Best, Andy Griffith, and The
Beverly Hillbillies. But now has evolved into TV Land, and many of these shows
have gone away. Replaced with garbage like Hot in Cleveland, The Exes, and
Jennifer Falls, all new shows that are decadent at best, with no classic
overtones. Reruns of Raymond, which I don’t like, and King of Queens, who
isn’t. Whatever happened to real classics like The Honeymooners, Sgt. Bilko,
and Dragnet? At least sometimes a spin off channel Cartoon Network shows the
Flintstones or the Jetsons. But the word classic doesn’t mean what it used to,
and with us old classics fading from view daily, who knows what the new classic
will be? Justin Bieber? I can almost hear Laura Petry, “oh Rob!”
But the original Nick at Night took place some 2000 years ago. Let me set
the scene. Nicodemus, head of the Sanhedrin has heard about this teacher, Jesus
of Nazareth. It is the time of Passover, and many people are in Jerusalem.
Many crowding both Jesus and Nicodemus. And Jesus meets with Nick at night, in
the cool of the evening, which many did due to the crowds and higher daytime
temps. Nicky wants to meet Jesus, he is fascinated by what he hears about him,
but is about to be captivated by what he hears from him. Being in the
Sanhedrin, he is well versed in the laws of Moses, and is a rich man also. We
would call him famous today. A celebrity, yet this unknown, itinerant teacher
has caught his attention. And the ensuing conversation is famous, Jesus tells
him “you must be born again to inherit the kingdom of God.” Now Nicky knows of
the prophecies of the returning savior, could this be him? Yet he goes away
confused, questioning, “how can a man be born again and reenter the womb?” One
meaning of the original Greek is again means from above, yet he still wonders.
And for another 16 chapters in John he is never heard of, yet when he shows up
with Joseph of Arimithea at the tomb of Jesus with precious burial ointments, we
see him here in chapter 19 a changed man. Somewhere in the 16 chapters he has
truly become born again, born from above, and is where once he met in secret at
night, now he risks everything at his tomb in the light of day. But what has
happened, how did he become born again? A term used only three times in the New
Testament, quoting Jesus’ original statement.
Maybe Nicky’s original confusion came from the fact he thought he had to do
it himself. It has to come from above, and has to have incorruptible origins.
It is a work of the spirit, whose job is telling us “you need Jesus,” over and
over again until our day of salvation. It is a choice we make, based on the
urgings of the spirit, based on faith in who Jesus Christ is. A supernatural,
magical transformation from death to life. No wonder Nick questioned it, and so
many do today. For we look for outward appearances, evidence we can see to
confirm the change, yet for each one of us it is different. Individual. Some
get excited, it is emotional and immediate changes are seen. For some it is a
gentle transformation as told in Romans. For some they are silent Christians
like Joe of A was, but when urged by the Holy Spirit performed the task he was
assigned, giving up his grave for Jesus. So that famous meeting with Nick at
night still has personal ramifications, everlasting ones even today.
So today you still must be born again, born from above to enter the kingdom
of God. It takes Jesus, and he made it easy so I could get it, and free, so I
could afford it. Not cheap, for he paid a huge price, but paid it for us. It
is more than adopting a new philosophy, for if it was philosophers could debate
it. If it was a lifestyle, People magazine would promote it. If religious,
religion would embrace it. And if a code to live by, men would form clubs to
show their righteousness. It is not a self help, for you cannot save yourself.
You need a savior. Yet all come close, and we see evidence in the world of all,
but Jesus saves, only Jesus is love. And even nailing him to the cross couldn’t
deter his message, for he rose again just as he said. So it must be more than a
belief system, it must be personal. So personal he gives the invitation, and
shows you himself. An experience that must be experienced, for there are no
words to describe it. You can come close to the emotion of it, but it is
impossible to relate a relationship with an infinite God in finite terms. So
many go away like Nick did that night, looking to understand, when all Jesus
asks is for us to be faithful. To trust, to try him out. And he says “you
must,” for there is no other way under heaven or earth by which we can be
saved. He is the way, the truth, and the light. And in 25 words explains the
meaning of life via John 3:16-17. You must be born from above. Are you?
That same Jesus that confronted Nick at night is calling out to you now.
You need Jesus, but perfect love does not demand itself. It requires a
decision, to be saved or not. And since God is a spirit and must be worshipped
as such, it takes a spiritual rebirth to be saved. And in heaven we will get
that new body, I get a new aorta! I’m excited about that! So have you been
born again? Born from above? Or are you still channel surfing for a savior,
and finding many channels, but nothing on? Only Jesus is the way, classic
before Coke, rock, or anything else. He is the rock, make sure your name is on
the role, be saved today. It is just between you and him, but you will find you
cannot keep him inside. Nick didn’t, and couldn’t, going from night time in the
garden, to daytime at the tomb. Where all could see him. But it started with
the spirit urging him to meet with Jesus. An appointment has been set for you,
maybe today. Maybe tonight. Will you keep it? What questions will you have?
Will you listen to the answers? Will you be born from above?
I don’t watch Nick at Night anymore, nothing on. Don’t miss your night,
your appointment with Jesus. Be like Nick that night, make it personal,
consider his claims, and let him change your life. For Jesus, like the original
Coke, is the real thing. Jesus is it. The most refreshing way of every day.
From above....so set your sights on things on high...only Jesus saves. Still
searching, over 200 channels and nothing on? He comes to you...without a
remote. Before cable, before DTV, he was and still is the best thing on any
channel.
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com