Anyone reading this post must pause for a moment and ask themselves the most important question of their lives: Are you born again? Many will say that they now read the Bible daily, pray more regularly, go to church more regularly, think about God more than they used to, etc. But the question remains: Are you born again? This phrase was brought forth from the lips of Jesus in John 3:1-21, in His encounter with Nicodemus. Yet this necessity for salvation has become a term of scorn and ridicule. Many well-meaning individuals consider it to be a denomination. Many avoid the term all together, not wanting to be labeled. But it is not an alternative to heaven, but the only means of entrance into it. A person can choose to worship in most any Christian denomination they desire, as long as they are born again. This term literally means "born from above". It is an act of God whereby eternal life is imparted to the believer, and we become "children of God".

Though many want to list all the good things that they do, the truth is, as we read in Romans 3:10,12, "There is none righteous, no, not one;...There is none who does good, no, not one." We read in Romans 3:23, "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." One needs to repent of their sins (not just confess, but rethink them, realizing that we are wrong and that God's ways are right), accepting payment for our sins which was accomplished by what Jesus did, not by what we do, then have Him become Lord of our lives. We must acknowledge the fact that before this decision is made, we were spiritually dead. We read in Ephesians 2:8-9, "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast."

This may seem like an odd place to discuss being born again, but as we read the judgment that will befall Babylon, realize Babylon acted as God's instrument against Judah. Therefore they were God's vessel, used by God. Though as we learn more about King Nebuchadnezzar in the book of Daniel, and it does seem like he has a true conversion experience after being brought very low, as a whole the Babylonians, followed a false god, and were lifted up in pride. They didn't see themselves as vessels, but as a powerhouse. They didn't treat the Jewish people with dignity but brutalized them and ransacked the Temple. When God uses us to correct another, we better do so in meekness, not in pride and anger, as Paul wrote in Galatians 6:1, "Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted." The Babylonians didn't, and all too often we don't either. Once born again, we would do well to cut off our old self which still desires our old ways and our old life. We read in Jeremiah 51:6,10, "Flee from the midst of Babylon, And every one save his life! Do not be cut off in her iniquity, For this is the time of the Lord's vengeance; He shall recompense her...The Lord has revealed our righteousness. Come and let us declare in Zion the work of the Lord our God."
The United States, as it is now, though started so many years ago by the Puritans who desired to model their society upon Biblical principles, resembles Babylon in all of it's ugliness. The question is are we born again? If so, why are so many trying so much harder to assimilate with our Babylon rather than distance themselves. This does not mean we are to cloister ourselves, since we who are born again are not to isolate from others, but deem ourselves citizens of heaven and ambassadors of earth. Unfortunately, more desire to enjoy dual citizenship in heaven and earth. Many are not recognizable from others who are not born again. The question has been raised: If our Christianity were on trial, would there be enough evidence to convict us?.”