Heart Attack!
Julian Archer
“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call up on me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:11-13
Nicodemus was curious about Jesus. Despite being rich and powerful, a member of the Sanhedrin and ruling over the politics and religion of Israel, what he really wanted was to be saved. Was it possible that Jesus was the Messiah? Nicodemus sought Jesus out at night, not wanting anyone to see him. Jesus told Nicodemus that “God so loved the world that he sent his only and begotten son.” That night in the garden Nicodemus was convicted that Jesus was the Messiah, but he was not yet converted. He would not be converted until he saw Jesus on the cross.
Our God is a God of love, a God of second chances. It is never too late for us to choose to follow Jesus. Once we make that choice, it is a choice we must make every day. We will be given a new heart but despite that it will continue to be a daily battle. Every day we need to die to self and invite Jesus into our lives and into our hearts.
There are those who have known the pardoning love of Christ and who really desire to be children of God, yet they realize that their character is imperfect, their life faulty, and they are ready to doubt whether their hearts have been renewed by the Holy Spirit. To such I would say, do not draw back in despair. We shall often have to bow down and weep at the feet of Jesus because of our shortcomings and mistakes, but we are not to be discouraged.” Ellen G White – Steps to Christ pg 64
“For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:6