As I hold my four week old baby in my arms, I consider what it means to be "born again".
Nicodemus, a Pharisee of great renown, approached the question quite literally. Surely an educated man like Nicodemus could extrapolate the symbolism Jesus had given; and yet, he remained concerned about the physical implications of an old man crawling back into his mother's womb. It'd be easy to count Nicodemus as foolish for missing the point, but perhaps he was the point.
The unborn baby has never seen beyond the darkness of her mother's womb, she's never heard more than her mother's heartbeat, and the unintelligible mumble of her voice. Her experience of the world is limited to her amniotic sac until she is born, and can taste and see the fullness of life.
We quickly forget what life was like before Christ. We were blind and deaf before even realising our eyes and ears were made to see and hear. We are helpless if not for the love of God who carries us in His arms, provides our every need, and reveals the fullness of life. Without being born in the Spirit, we spend our thoughts on foolish endeavours; but being born again, are hearts can know the Kingdom.
This artwork has been adapted from a collection painted two years ago; now reborn.
Laura Wardrop has undertaken further study in the areas of Linguistics, Art, and Ministry. She currently works a graphic artist and painter, and takes a keen interest in exploring all areas of human creativity as a reflection of God’s character. She lives with her husband Stephen and two children in Brisbane.