A spiritual mystery

Nine-month-old Marcus stared into the phone’s camera not sure exactly what to make of the image waving at him.

Benson was away on a week-long assignment at work and Marcus hasn’t seen him for a few days. Benson has called in via Zoom to chat with Marcus, his son, and his wife, Vera.

Marcus is usually happy and babbles a lot. But as Benson called his name and waved on screen, he looked confused. Both parents noticed his confusion.

“Do you know what he might be thinking?”, Benson asked his wife.

“I guess he’s wondering how Daddy became so small as to fit in a phone”, Vera replied while cuddling Marcus.

Such was the confusion of Nicodemus when Jesus said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3). Nicodemus said to Him, “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 3:4).

How can we explain the mystery of salvation with our limited human understanding? Can you search out the deep things of God? Can you find out the limits of the Almighty? They are higher than heaven—what can you do? Deeper than Sheol—what can you know? (Job 11:7-8).

How can we explain what happens when we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour? And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you (Romans 8:10-11).

While we cannot exactly explain the mystery of salvation, we can live in its reality when we believe that Jesus died on the cross of Calvary to restore us back into sweet fellowship with God, the Father. We are also equipped to live godly in this present world. For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age (Titus 2:11-12).

Our role is to repent and believe while He works out His salvation in our hearts. It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life. But there are some of you who do not believe. (John 6:63-64).

Do you believe?

For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation (Romans 10:10).