BEING BORN ANEW ...LETTING THE PAST GO

Who is the 'old self', the self we call "me"?

The world puts its stamp on us from a very early age. We learn to view ourselves through the eyes of others, and derive our sense of self-worth from how we're treated by others.

Over time a self-image forms within us based on:

  • all the relationships we ever had - parents, relatives, friends, neighbours,
  • on what we were taught in school,
  • on what the media has told us we oughta' be like.

 

We grow, each in our way applying our gifts to move ahead in life and find love...but inevitably we also become a person formed by the world, stamped with all its evil and ignorance.

We reject, betray and abandon because we're hurt. We're hurt because we've been rejected, betrayed and abandoned. In Christian terms, we become both victims and perpetrators of sin. We're born into the darkness of sin and are drawn into a never-ending cycle of being hurt and hurting others.

This little "I", or "ego" that we think is "Me" has one main drive: to be in control. It's goal is complete autonomy. It's purpose is to be separate, sufficient unto itself, independent of any power except its own. It is the perfect symbol of separation....from others and from God.

The dark side of having to be in control, however, is that in order to protect our self we create a solid inner shield around our heart to ward off assaults, and at the same time hone our ability to always strike first before someone else can strike us. The more our attitudes become loveless and self-centered, the more we become alone and isolated....and more fearful in our solitude.

The face we show the world would like to project an image of "I'm stronger, smarter and better looking", but this is often a front, created to vainly disguise our real sense of powerlessness, weakness and unworthiness, of being so alone, hurt and unloved.

No matter how well this little "me" does in life or however many people admire it, it remains crippled by all it's inner demons - the spirits of fear and guilt that rule within. It feels humbled and depressed by its personal powerlessness in the face of sickness, evil, catastrophic events and death.

Into this picture steps Jesus.

Jesus, who walked the earth 2000 years ago as the HUMAN EMBODIMENT OF GOD, came to set us free from the human condition of darkness, sin and ignorance. His love for us was so unspeakably great that He died a cruel death so that we might know eternal live - saved, healed and delivered from our dark and sinful past.

How can knowing Jesus cause a person to be born anew or reborn?

Jesus gave us a very beautiful image of His relationship to us. He said "I am the Vine, you are the branches."

Being reborn is like having your inner sense of yourself transformed from feeling like a branch fallen to the ground to experiencing yourself as being a loved and living part of the Vine.

He also said another important thing: "The Kingdom of Heaven is within you". In other words, you are not apart from your Heavenly Father, even as you walk the trails of earth...rather your Source and Center dwells within you, loves you, guides you and inspires you to a life of greater love through His Holy Spirit.

Being reborn means Jesus moving in and bringing all his 'things'. Through surrendering to Jesus you are no longer this finite little ego that you used to be....you are now endowed with a great and powerful Spirit - the Holy Spirit. You now have a Power within you, yet not of you, to heal and be healed, to save and be saved, to deliver from evil and be delivered from evil.

Being reborn is saying "YES" to Jesus...to His invitation to surrender to His love, His wisdom, His leading, His authority. Inviting in His Holy Spirit is inviting in New Life and a new future, untouched by a sinful past.

It is letting the old self die- the self burdened by fear and grief. It is letting go of the past. It is being set free from the chains of shame and guilt that kept us shackled to pain, the heart cleansed by repentance for its evil acts and dreams. He comes to live within us by the Holy Spirit and along with him, we find we have a new will, a new purpose, a new way of walking through the world, sharing the love of God with all who are sick and afraid and weary, sharing with people who were just like you were before you felt the healing touch of God in the deepest places in your heart.

Now instead of being alone and powerless, you have the Power of God to live through you. When you call out to Him in sickness or afflliction you know that He will help and bless...just like a vine keeps infusing its branches with all they require to thrive. He shares His Life with you - He offers you His Mind with which to replace your own. He offers you His Vision, so that whereas before you were blind, now you can see. He give to you His Heart, so that with every heartbeat you know that you are joined to your God. He offers you His Will, and in His Will you know that you are no longer separate from God.

Your life is no longer just about you...it's now a glorious awareness of the life of all the other branches of the Vine, and of the awesome love of the Vine Itself for Its branches. You want to love and heal, just like Jesus wants to love and heal. You are a new being....you have left behind everything that hurts you or frightens you, as you are compellingly drawn by that great "peace that passes all understanding" that comes to you each time you rest your soul in Jesus.

"From now on every road you travel will take you to God. Follow the covenant signs, read the charted directions." Psalm 25:10