New Life

On May 23, 2023, our newest grandchild was born! Elise Lou Garrett came into the world at 12:42 PM, weighing 6 pounds, 10 ounces, with a length of 19 and one-quarter inches. Mother, father, big brother, and big sister are doing well. Grandparents aren’t doing too badly either!

It is amazing how much anticipation, excitement, and joy a new birth brings. From the moment my bride and I heard that our son and his wife were expecting, we were thrilled. We found out only four days after they adopted our first two grandchildren in September. “Surprise, surprise, surprise!” (My kids live in Sylacauga, Alabama, the hometown of Jim Nabors, better known as Gomer Pyle.) We were all surprised.

Immediately, my son declared his home was too small, his car was too small, and they did not know what they were going to do. Since that time, they bought a larger SUV and a larger home. They were showered by gifts for newborns. Their supplies grew as the time drew near. The family was excited, their friends were excited, and their church was excited. With each passing sonogram, more and more details were available. This little baby drew hundreds of people’s attention. Friends and relatives with birthdays in the month of May began secretly and not-so-secretly expressing hope this new person would be born on their birthday. There was an air of love, joy, and anticipation of meeting Elise!

New birth always brings excitement. Jesus expressed the excitement of new birth in a series of parables. He spoke about a shepherd rejoicing over one lost sheep among ninety-nine others and the joy he had when it was found. In Luke 15:7 we read, “…there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.”

He spoke further of a woman who sought out one lost coin out of ten coins. She searched diligently until she found it. She rejoiced greatly when her search yielded the coin. In Luke 15:10 we read, “Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

This new birth, abandoning one’s selfish ways and sincerely pursuing a life of serving God, is being “born again.”  Jesus used this term when speaking to a man named Nicodemus. Nicodemus was a Jewish ruler who came to Jesus by night because he was beginning to believe in Him but did not want to reveal his near belief to others. In John 3:3, Jesus told him, “…unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” In short, if Nicodemus were to come to believe Jesus was God’s Son and follow Him, he would be “born again” and have eternal life with God.

Again, new birth brings excitement. Our friends and family spent months getting ready for Elise’s birth. Our excitement and preparation grew and grew as the due date grew closer. On the day she was born, my bride and I, our grandkids, and my son’s in-laws found out in a most unusual way. We were in the hospital cafeteria eating lunch when the text, “She’s here,” arrived. Let me tell you, there was no one in that cafeteria that was uninformed. We were loud, tearful, joyful, celebratory, and rushed. The grandkids were screaming, “I have a baby sister!” We finished our food in record time as we called and texted other family members. We then rushed back to the waiting room eager to meet our newest blessing. Later, we each relished that first glimpse, first touch, and first cuddle. She was finally here.

Even with all the excitement surrounding a baby’s birth, I cannot imagine the excitement in heaven when a person is born again! Immense joy is felt when a baby enters this life. What greater joy must occur when a person enters eternal life!

There is an old song by Bill and Gloria Gaither, Because He Lives, that contains a verse that reads, “How sweet to hold a newborn baby and feel the pride, and joy he gives; but sweeter still the calm assurance, this child can face uncertain days because He lives.” The chorus reads, “Because He lives, I can face tomorrow, because He lives, all fear is gone, because I know He holds the future, and life is worth the living just because He lives.”

My prayer is that the Lord will protect my grandchildren and they will have a second birth – a birth into eternal life. When that happens, we will celebrate! When that happens, heaven will celebrate, as well! Friend, I hope heaven has already celebrated for you. If not, I encourage you to consider what a great future you can have if you truly believe Jesus is the Way, Truth, and LIFE. Because He lives, I can face tomorrow, because He lives, all fear is gone, because I know He holds the future, and life is worth the living just because He lives. May it be true for you.

 

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