Jerome's New Birth Day

Jerome came from a large family. He had no toys of his own. He had to share everything with his brothers and sisters. He shared his bed with his younger brother. His clothes were hand-me-downs from his older brother. His baby sister was born on the same day as Jerome, so he even had to share his birthday with her!

One day some friends took Jerome to a Bible club on the next block. The teacher told him about Nicodemus – a man who wanted to know about God and heaven. Jesus told him he had to be “born again” to know God and to go to heaven. Nicodemus was a grown-up man, so he asked Jesus, “How can I do this? I cannot become a baby and be born again that way.”

Jesus told him that being born again meant changing the part inside ourselves that feels good, bad, happy and sad. This is the part of us no one sees except God. It’s called our “spiritual” self.

Jesus then said, “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). Nicodemus believed Jesus and was born again.

The Bible teacher asked Jerome, “Do you want to trust God’s Son, who died on the cross for your sins? Would you like to be born again?”

With her help, Jerome asked Jesus to forgive all his sins. The teacher then said: “Jesus is your Savior. Today you begin your new life in Christ. Today is your spiritual birthday.”

The Bible club then sang this special birthday song for Jerome:

Happy birthday to you; Only one will not do. Take the gift of salvation, And then you’ll have two!

Jerome was so excited, he said, “Now Jesus is my Savior. I’m on my way to heaven. I have my very own birthday, one I don’t have to share with anyone else!” He was so happy, he went right home and told his whole family about his new birthday.

What about you? Do you want to be born again and have a new birthday? Do you want to know God and be ready for heaven? These Bible verses will tell you how:

God loves you: “God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).

Jesus died for you: “Christ died for our sins … was buried, and … rose again the third day according to the Scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:3-4).

God wants you in His family: “As many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:12). – M. Sims

✎

Scriptures from The New King James Version, © 1982, Thomas Nelson, Inc. By permission. Free tracts and biblical counsel available by request.