You Don't Know When You Were Born?

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

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Birthdays have changed for me over the years. When I was little, my parents always made it a big deal with a party, and friends, and hats, and cake with candles and all the rest.

Today my birthday just isn't a big hoopla it used to be. Many times I have the quiet kind with cards, a couple of gifts, and a nice family dinner together. Actually, it's getting to the point where my wife is hesitant to put candles on my cake. She says there's so many it might set off the smoke detectors in our house. Come on! But it is getting tougher.

The observance varies from year to year, but one thing is for sure - I always know when it's my birthday. You say, "Oh, well, congratulations! Most people do." In fact, I have to write it on a lot of forms many times a year. And then, I know when I was married too. Aren't you proud of me? I can even remember that, and I'd better remember the anniversary for sure. Hey, look, important beginnings; you know when they were, or you should.

I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "You Don't Know When You Were Born?"

Now, when you go flying - that is in an airplane, you don't try to talk your way on board. I do a lot of flying, and you don't say, "Listen, don't you think I'm good looking? Don't you think I'm a nice guy? Would you let me on board?" They'd say, "No, sir. Where is your ticket?" Did you know it's the same thing when it comes to getting into God's heaven? One day you and I are going to stand before God and hope that we'll spend forever in that wonderful place. Got your ticket?

Well, what's your ticket? John 3:3 - basically He says, "Here's the ticket." Jesus says, "I'll tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God (woah!) unless he is born again." Well, how do you do that? If that's the only ticket to get into God's heaven, you want to make sure that you are born again. So, how does that happen? When does it happen?

Our word for today from the Word of God, John 1:12 says this, "To all who received Christ, to those who believed in His Name, He gave the right to become the children of God." In other words, to get born into His family. Now, on my first birthday I was born into the Hutchcraft family; I know when that happened. On your second birth, you get born into God's family when you place your total trust in Christ and tell Him you want Him to enter the control room of your life.

There's no way to do that without knowing you did it. Now, do you know when you were born into God's family? Okay, you may not remember a date - not everybody does - but you've got to remember that you did it, to know that you did. If not, you might not be in God's family. You say, "Well, I've been around Him for years; I must have picked Him up somewhere." You don't get Jesus by osmosis. "Well, I believe it all." But see, agreement is not commitment. "Well, I can't remember not knowing about Him." That doesn't mean you've given yourself to Him any more than knowing and even loving a person for 50 years means you married them.

Like birth, there's a day when no life becomes life. Like Mary, choosing Christ is a conscious choice. You know you did it. You may have Christian beliefs, a Christian pedigree, a Christian reputation, even a Christian position and not have Christ. When were you born? If you don't know...if you're not sure there's a day you began to be in God's family, well, maybe you're not in it. But you know what? You could consciously, today, receive Him and get this settled. Just don't be so proud that you won't make sure. Religious pride is going to cost a lot of people heaven.

If you're not sure you belong to Him, why not have a day when you make sure? Why not let this be the day? The Bible says, "Today is your day of salvation." Reach out and say, "Jesus, beginning today, consciously I give myself to You. I am Yours."

Go to our website. A lot of people go there, and you can find there how to be sure you belong to Him. The website's YoursForLife.net. And when you do finally tell Him that for sure, this could be the most special day of your life.

You let Christ in today, and your Heavenly Father will be the first to wish you "Happy Birthday!"