One can be sure that the year 2025 will begin with the same hustle and bustle that was experienced as 2024 passed away in a blaze into the annals of history.  That there is excitement and anticipation of better things to come is all part of God’s blessings on a nation that was founded on principles of His word.  God desires that life be lived to its fullest with His blessings of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. 

It is prudent that we pause to consider that which enables God’s desires to be fulfilled in the human race. It must begin with that which is spiritual, for God is a Spirit.  Jesus had to explain this Truth to Nicodemus, who, though very religious, did not have a personal relationship with God through faith in Christ.  Nicodemus knew all the rituals of Judaism and performed them to his best.  No doubt, he performed his tasks honorably and had acquired a good standing in his community.  His achievements were noble and applauded before men. Surely that should give anyone a right standing with God, or would it?  

Nicodemus did not understand that God required that a person be born again from above. Therefore, he inquired of Jesus … “How can a man be born when he is old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb to be born!” Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’  The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit” (John 3:4 NIV).  God required a righteousness compatible with His, and it was only attainable through faith in Christ.  Human righteousness, though obviously good before the eyes of men, could not satisfy the demands of a perfect God. 

The Apostle Paul described the spiritual status of every individual.  Mankind, including Nicodemus, lacked the righteousness of God.  “This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus” (Rom 3:22-24 NIV).  He, as with all of us, fell short of God’s standard of perfection.  Rather than deserving God’s praise and “a pat on the back,” all … “Like the rest [mankind], we were by nature objects of wrath.  But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions — it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus” (Eph 2:3-7 NIV).

Mankind does not like to hear that self is not capable of attaining a right standing with God.  Sadly, many teach that man by his own efforts can reach up to God and gain divine favor.  Only Christianity teaches that it is God who reaches down to man, who, on the basis of faith alone in Christ alone, can a person be declared righteous before God.  Jesus’ firm but compassionate message to Nicodemus revealed that the good Work accepted by God was that of Christ’s death on the Cross on which the sins of every individual were paid. God’s wrath poured out on Christ satisfied His Righteousness.  It was all His doing … “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16 NIV).