How do You Change the Essence of a Man?

We are all born greedy and selfish. We politely call it human nature. But who are we really and what are we made of? I tend to be a realist, so facts are very important to me.

Fact: Man chose to walk away from grace and thereby changed his nature from pure to defiled.

Fact: Man is incapable of reversing that nature on his own.

Fact: There are those who desire to regain that grace and there are those who do not.

Fact: God does provide a way for man to once again live in His grace.

Fact: God’s grace is available to any who choose it.

You might say to me, “None of these are actual facts. They are made-up ideas that you have concocted on your own.” They might not seem to be facts in a spiritually fallen and deadened soul world. But in the realm of truth, they are solid like stone. One of the first things we did when we traded away grace for greed was to deprive our souls of spiritual understanding. Our hearts, our minds, and our spirits have been set adrift to wander this life without satisfaction or any real meaning. The rich are never rich enough. The famous are never famous enough. And those who wish to control never have enough power over others. All of this makes for a very unfriendly world. Yet it is the one world we all live in together. So how do those who wish to reverse their nature do so?

Only the Spirit of God can change the spirit of a man. Remember the second fact; man is incapable of changing on his own. We need help. In John chapter 3: 3-4, Jesus and Nicodemus were having a very frank conversation. Nicodemus knew that God was with Jesus because he had witnessed the signs Jesus was doing. Jesus told Nicodemus that if he wanted to know the ways of God, he must be born again. Jesus was talking spiritually but Nicodemus was thinking physically in the way the world works. He could not figure out what Jesus meant. That’s the way we all are until our spirits are awakened.

When someone says you need forgiveness for your sins, you don’t understand. When someone tells you to ask Jesus into your heart to be your savior, you don’t understand that either. A renewed life with God is not something that can be rationalized. Meaning you can’t think it through mentally. God’s way that He provides for man to live in His grace is called faith. And that faith must be placed only in His Son Jesus Christ. There is no other way to awaken your spirit.

Why does God require faith as our way to Him? Faith is the essential ingredient in trust. And trusting God is His requirement of us. Do any of you remember asking your mother a question about something she told you to do? What was her answer? “Because I said so.” We were just supposed to take her at her word. Much more so with God! Without getting into the whole requirement of forgiveness for our sins, God has set His way to regain that relationship with Him through the act of faith. Webster’s Dictionary: It is the unquestioning belief that does not require any evidence or proof. Out of that comes trust. We will not find the freedom of true life until we put our trust in God.

How?

This fallen world needed a champion. Someone who, through his own personal act of bravery,  endured the humilities thrown at him, took all our wrongs on his shoulders, and cleared the slate for mankind to find freedom with God again. That champion is Jesus Christ!

There are those who seem completely unable to understand or accept this as fact. Are their spirits asleep? Or does personal pride tell them, “There must be another way?” Do not let pride stop you! A dormant spirit is a blind spirit. It cannot see the ways of God any more than a blind man can see the sunrise. Whether it’s ignorance or arrogance, an unawaken spirit cannot see. The good news is that we have some control over this challenge.

Those who wish to come alive spiritually must simply acknowledge the Lordship of Jesus Christ and ask God for His grace. Believe, and you will be renewed! You must choose to trust God. And have faith that Jesus Christ can make all things new for you. That’s it.

Not enough complexity for you? God did not make this opportunity only for those who are competent in Scripture. Not just for theologians. He made it simple for simple folk. There is no holy ceremony. There are no magic words. Only open your heart and ask. It is the one prayer we know for sure that God will answer with a yes.

Do you want to live?