© 2014 by Tom Boynton (editing by Kathy Boynton)

How’s your hearing?

“There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. 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. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit” (John 3:1-8).

Notice. Jesus did not tell Nicodemus to do something for salvation. Rather, He used the illustration of wind which made it crystal clear that salvation is not something that can be generated from inside the man. It has to come from outside. It has to come from God the Holy Spirit breathing new life into a previously dead heart.

Over the years the Lord has given me opportunity to preach to a few people at a time on many occasions. I seldom see the results of my preaching. I cannot see where God’s breath is going or into whom He is breathing life. I can only rely on the fact that, if His Word is preached, He promises,

“…it shall not return unto me void” (Isaiah 55:11).

Only occasionally does God send someone back to me with news of how He worked in that person’s heart. It is always thrilling when this happens!

The Bible says,

“So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17).

Are you reading it? Has the invisible wind of God’s breath of life come to you?

Are you listening for it?

 

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