It’s Who You Know - John 3:1-8

John 3:3 Jesus replied, I assure you, unless you are born again, you can never see the Kingdom of God. (NLT)

It started with an occasional light that read, “Check Charging System.” We were out of town visiting family so I checked with two service managers who were personal friends. I assumed I could get a straight answer. I did. It was the alternator. “But we can’t fix it until it is completely dead. Then we’ll know it’s the alternator.” I thought, “That’s like going to the doctor after you’re dead to find out you really are.”

Since our car was used when purchased, we had secured an extended warranty. My wife quickly read over the details to see if alternators were covered. They were, and we were happy until we called several local dealerships. Yes, they accepted the warranty but we might have to pay more than the deductible. In other words, they were out to make a little extra money off me.

Mom came to the rescue. Having worked for car dealerships for numerous years, she was familiar with the warranty procedure and even knew the “head honcho” whom she called. He in turn talked with another local dealership who agreed to make the repair for the stated deductible. He even gave me his personal number and said, “Call me if you ever have any trouble.”

Nicodemus was a religious leader who knew all the ins and outs of the Jewish religion but who must have felt something was still missing. Knowing Jesus’ reputation with his peers, he approached Jesus at night for a heart to heart talk. Jesus didn’t give him time to chit chat. He went straight to the point, “You must be born again.” Nicodemus hadn’t asked that, but he too learned it’s not what you know but who you know.

The proposed avenues for forgiveness and heaven have varied throughout history. Membership in a religious organization, baptism, worship of images, participation in church ordinances, etc. Perhaps the most famous is the hope my good deeds will outweigh the bad. Jesus reminds us it’s who we know: I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. (John 14:6) It really is who we know-by faith.

Prayer: God, I place my trust in You for forgiveness and an eternal home in heaven.