Some people reading these meditations will be upset with me for bringing up this subject, but love for my fellow man demands it. When God determines that the time for the return of Christ has come, many will be terrified to find out that they will be shut out from the Kingdom of God. I don't want that to ever happen to you, for Jesus said many would say to Him on that day, "Lord, Lord,' they said, 'open the door for us'!" but He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you’ (Matthew 25:11-12; Matthew 7:22-23).
The question we must ask is, how do you know if you are genuinely born again of the Spirit and will go to be with Christ when He comes? We're asking this because, in our daily meditations over the last few days, we have seen Jesus teaching Nicodemus that unless a man is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God (John 3:3). Let's explore this critical question:
Several years ago, a young girl came to the elders of a church wanting to become a part of the church. First, she was asked, “Did you ever find out that you were a sinner?” “Yes,” she said hesitantly, “I did indeed.” The second question was, "Do you think, my girl, that you have undergone a change?” “I know I have,” was the immediate reply. “Well,” the question came, “and what change has come over you?” “Well,” she said, “it's like this. Before I was converted, I was running after sin. Now, I am running away from it.” This character change is evidence of a born-again experience; it's both a change of attitude and direction in life.[1]
Let's take some time to review some evidence that a person is truly born-again, but beware that these things are not checkmarks of things you can do. The characteristics below are the fruit of an inner change created by the Holy Spirit, not our flesh.
1). Do you honestly believe the Gospel? We are not talking about a mental acknowledgment of the truth of God's Word, but a heart belief that lives out godly values in your daily life. Your life will show if you believe it or not. Jesus said, “By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?" (Matthew 7:16). There should be growing evidence of the fruit of the Spirit in your life (Galatians 5:16-25).
2). Is there a thankful and loving heart of appreciation toward the Lord Jesus for dying on the cross for you?
3). Do you have a hunger to know God’s Word? “But if anyone obeys his word, God's love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him” (1 John 2:5).
4). Is there anticipation in your heart for the return of Christ? 2"Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. 3Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure” (1 John 3:2-3, Emphasis mine).
5). Are you upset and disappointed with yourself when you sin? If you have invited Christ to sit on the throne of your life and have given Him control, the Spirit will convict you when you sin.
6). Do you love others that love God? Do you enjoy being around other Christians? “We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. Anyone who does not love remains in death” (1 John 3:14).
7). Do you have a conscious awareness of the Spirit at work in your life? If so, this also is evidence of the presence of God at work in you: “We know that we live in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit” (1 John 4:13).
My dear friends, my longing and prayer before God in writing such words is that you will have a sure hope and confidence before God at His coming. Keith Thomas
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This meditation is a shortened version of the in-depth study:You Must Be Born Again.
[1] A. Naismith, 1200 Notes, Quotes and Anecdotes, Printed in England by Marshall Pickering, 1963, Page 41
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