When a person is enlightened by the Word of the Lord, the process of becoming a new creation begins within them. Christ spoke of being born again as the essential condition for someone to see the Kingdom of God: Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” (John 3.3). Many people go to church and see nothing because they need to convert to the Lord and be born again.

The Master said this when speaking to Nicodemus, an important Jewish teacher who visited Him at night for fear that others would see him with Someone whom the priests did not accept. Nicodemus didn’t grasp the meaning of “to be born again” and, showing complete ignorance, asked, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” (John 3.4b-c).

Patiently, the Savior showed Nicodemus that it was not enough to be a descendant of Abraham, a member of the Sanhedrin, and a leader in the synagogue. If someone was not born again, they would never see the Light, that is, they would not be saved. Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. (John 3.5). If Christ returned today, many people who pack the churches would not ascend with Him. It is necessary to be born again now!

Everyone needs to go through the new birth, which occurs when a person is reborn by the Word of the Lord read or preached. Without true conversion, they will never enter the Kingdom of God. Someone may ask: where will those who do not surrender to Christ go? Wandering through the universe? No! The unrepentant, who do not accept Jesus as Savior and Lord, will go to eternal torment. This is serious, for they will be sent to eternal fire (2 Thessalonians 1:8; Revelation 20:14,15)!

We cannot fail to proclaim the Gospel to everyone. If we do not, we will be responsible for the condemnation of wonderful people, such as our family members. You see, even thieves and murderers need to hear that the Son of God paid the price for the salvation of humanity, and if they do not repent, their eternal destiny will be in the lake of fire and brimstone, from which they will never come out (Ezekiel 18:21,22; Revelation 21:8). After death, nothing more can be done to get them out of there.

Face this truth! Examine yourself now in the light of the Word and make your decision to accept Jesus and serve God. Today, people only think about having material possessions, forgetting that if they are not born again, they will never be welcomed into the Kingdom of Heaven. I am sad and apprehensive to imagine that if some of my relatives were to depart today for eternity, they would not be with the Lord. So, I am willing to tell them about eternal life in Christ, so that they may believe and be saved.

To absolve myself of guilt for someone's lack of conversion, let me repeat what Jesus taught: “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. (John 3.5). In the name of the Lord, get right with God, so that one day you may go to Heaven!

In Christ, with love,

R. R. Soares