Wednesday, October 19, 2016

New Birth and New Life


UV 2099/10000 New Life and the New Birth
Shall I bring to the birth, and not cause to bring forth? saith the LORD: shall I cause to bring forth, and shut the womb? saith thy God.
Isaiah 66 v 9

Whatever the Lord initiates in our lives, He will complete it or bring it to fruition. He will cause that which is conceived in faith to be born strapping and healthy. He nourishes the parts and causes us to grow holistically. Faith is often compared in the word to the growth of a baby in the womb. From a single cell, multiple organs are formed and finally, the whole child is born. Faith also involves conception and a period of formation or gestation. It is formed in the womb of space and time. It is not imaginary but happens in real time. It happens hidden from the human eye. Yet, one can feel it in one’s heart as the process of formation is ongoing and continuous till the time of the birth pangs.

While the child is being formed, the head, the trunk and the limbs are first shaped in the womb. The heart starts beating. The internal organs are differentiated and formed. The facial features are formed and finally, the child is born. All the while, the baby is fed through an umbilical cord. Our umbilical cord in the womb of space and time of this world is the Word. Our faith feeds on hope and love of God. Our tiny lungs begin to breathe in the oxygen of the promises of the Lord that are proved true in real time as we value these and hold on to it.

Our suffering in this world are like the severe pain of birth pangs. It ultimately turns out for our good. Our tears like the first cry of the child on birth strengthens our spiritual lungs and prepares us for eternal life. The Lord never leaves us alone during the whole process of birth. He oversees every part and parcel of our lives. This is the reason Jesus uses the metaphor of being born again in the spirit. New life, new strength, new set of priorities, new values, new set of standards, new vision are given birth to. Every moment our old lives are perishing continually while our new life is being renewed and strengthened for eternity. The Lord shapes our new personality to be like Him for Jesus exhorted us to “be perfect as our Father in heaven is perfect.” He frees us from our worldly lusts and imperfections over time. This is the process of becoming mature. We can no longer be babies but keep growing to the very stature of Christ.


Prateep V Philip

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