Transfomed Part 2: Building on Generations of Gospel Faithfulness

The Kingdom of God is not just a distant hope—it is here, breaking into the present. It is as real in our daily lives as it was when Jesus walked the earth, healing the sick, proclaiming good news to the poor, and announcing the reign of God. I once had a friend who would pray for the sick in grocery stores. There was no stage, no microphone, no official church service—just a heart full of faith, believing that the power of God’s Kingdom was available now. Some were healed instantly, while others walked away unchanged, at least on the surface. But every time, something significant happened: the reality of God’s reign was being made visible. These moments were echoes of Jesus’ own ministry, where the sick were made well, demons were cast out, and people encountered the tangible love of God. When Jesus said, “The kingdom of heaven has come near” (Matthew 4:17), He wasn’t speaking in metaphors—He was announcing a present reality, a kingdom already at work in the world, yet not fully realized.

But this kingdom did not appear out of nowhere. It is part of a great unfolding story, one that stretches back to the very beginning. In Genesis, before the fall of humanity, creation was whole—God’s rule was unchallenged, and man and woman lived in perfect harmony with Him. But when sin entered the world, that harmony was broken. Yet even in that moment of rebellion, God spoke the first words of hope. In Genesis 3:15, He declared that the offspring of the woman would one day crush the head of the serpent. This was the first prophecy of redemption—the promise of a coming victory over sin and evil. From that moment, the story of salvation began to unfold, a story that would take shape through a particular people, a promised King, and ultimately, a new covenant that would change the world forever.

The first great milestone in this unfolding plan was the call of Abraham. God chose him, not just to bless him personally, but to create a people through whom salvation would come to all nations. “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you... and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you” (Genesis 12:2-3). This was more than a promise of descendants; it was the establishment of a lineage through which the promised seed of Genesis 3:15 would come. Abraham’s faith became the foundation of God’s covenant people, and through his descendants, Israel was born—a nation set apart to carry the promise forward. But even as Abraham’s children multiplied and became a great people, the world still longed for the fulfillment of that original promise, for the seed who would crush the serpent’s head.

Centuries later, God expanded His covenant again, this time to a shepherd boy who would become a king. To David, He said, “Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever” (2 Samuel 7:16). This was not just about David’s personal reign but about a coming King, one who would rule with perfect justice and righteousness. Isaiah later expanded on this, prophesying of a child who would be born, a son who would be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6). This was the King who would fulfill God’s covenant with David, who would rule not just over Israel but over all creation. The people of Israel waited for Him, longing for the day when their Messiah would come.

And then, in the fullness of time, He came. Not with military might, not in royal splendor, but as a child laid in a manger. On that night in Bethlehem, as Mary wrapped her newborn Son in cloths and placed Him in a feeding trough, the heavens could not remain silent. An angel appeared to a group of shepherds in the fields, declaring, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord” (Luke 2:10-11). Then suddenly, a vast multitude of the heavenly host appeared, praising God and proclaiming, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests” (Luke 2:14). The King had come. The long-awaited promise was now flesh and blood, dwelling among us.

Yet He did not come in the way many expected. He did not take up a sword or overthrow Rome. Instead, He announced a different kind of kingdom—one that was already at hand but not yet fully realized. “The kingdom of God is in your midst” (Luke 17:21), He told the Pharisees. His reign was demonstrated not through political power but through love, healing, and the breaking of spiritual chains. Every miracle, every act of mercy, every moment of forgiveness was evidence that God’s rule was breaking into the present world.

But the kingdom did not stop with Jesus’ earthly ministry. Before He ascended, He commissioned His followers to carry it forward, declaring, “Go and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19). The baton of faith was passed to them, and they ran their race, proclaiming the good news of the Kingdom, often at the cost of their own lives. And generation after generation, that race has continued. The Kingdom has spread across the world, carried by those who have believed in the promises of God, trusting that the same Spirit who moved in Jesus moves in them.

Yet, even as we experience the reality of the Kingdom now, we know there is more to come. The promise is not yet fully realized. Revelation 21:4 gives us a glimpse of what is ahead: “‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” We live in the tension between the already and the not yet—the Kingdom is here, but its fullness is still coming. Hebrews reminds us that we are part of a great cloud of witnesses, running the race of faith that has been passed down through generations (Hebrews 12:1). Those who came before us—Abraham, David, the prophets, the apostles, and countless believers throughout history—carried the promise forward, even though they did not see its final fulfillment.

And here is the astonishing truth: they will not be made complete apart from us. “These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect” (Hebrews 11:39-40). The fullness of the Kingdom—the final victory of Christ—is something we will experience together, across all generations, when He returns to reign.

Until that day, we run our race. We carry the baton forward, proclaiming the Good News, praying for the sick, bringing the hope of the Kingdom into every corner of our lives. We do so knowing that we are part of something far greater than ourselves, a story that began in Genesis and will culminate in the glorious return of our King. The seed has been planted, the people of promise have carried it forward, the King has come, and the Kingdom is advancing. One day soon, it will be complete, and we will stand together—every saint from every generation—before the throne of the Lamb. Until then, we press on, running with perseverance, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith. The Kingdom is here. The Kingdom is coming. And we are part of its unfolding story.

Transformed Part 1: Born Again to See the Kingdom

There are moments in life that define us—encounters so profound they alter the course of our journey. For me, one such moment came in a small basement apartment during my college years. It was an ordinary night, yet in an instant, everything changed. I saw, in my mind’s eye, a vision of Jesus—His face twisted in anguish, crowned with thorns. But what struck me most was His eyes, burning with unfathomable love. As I stared, a question filled my soul, unmistakable yet gentle: “If there were another way to reach Me, why would I have caused My Son to suffer in this manner?” The weight of that moment shattered my assumptions.

I had grown up believing that all religions led to the same truth, that faith was merely about seeking meaning. But this vision revealed something deeper: Jesus was not just another teacher. He was the only way to God. His suffering was not symbolic—it was necessary. If we could find life through any other means, the cross would have been unnecessary. But we cannot. Humanity is not in need of self-improvement; we are in need of rebirth.

1. Nicodemus and the Mystery of New Birth

Centuries before my encounter, another man wrestled with this very truth. Nicodemus was a Pharisee, a respected teacher of the law, yet something about Jesus unsettled him. He had seen the miracles, heard the authority in His voice, and knew this man was from God. But what he did not understand was what Jesus came to do.

Under the cover of night, Nicodemus sought Jesus out, full of questions. And Jesus, as He always did, cut straight to the heart:

"Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again." (John 3:3)

The words hit like a thunderclap. Born again? Nicodemus struggled to grasp the concept. Was Jesus speaking literally? How could a grown man be reborn? But Jesus was not speaking of physical birth—He was revealing a spiritual reality:

"Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit." (John 3:6)

Nicodemus had spent his life trying to follow the law, believing righteousness was something earned through knowledge, discipline, and religious observance. But Jesus declared that seeing the Kingdom of God was not about effort—it was about transformation. No one can enter unless they are born of water and the Spirit.

The idea of being born again is not just a theological concept—it is the fundamental reality of the Gospel. Without new birth, we remain disconnected from God, spiritually dead, striving to draw life from empty wells. Jesus illustrated this truth in another conversation, this time with a woman at a well in Samaria.

This woman had spent years searching for fulfillment—through relationships, approval, and temporary pleasures—but always ended up thirsty. Jesus saw her need and offered something greater:

"Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life." (John 4:13-14)

The human life is a well—limited, requiring constant effort to draw from, and easily running dry. But the Spirit-filled life is a spring, an unceasing overflow of living water that comes from God Himself. Jesus was telling Nicodemus and the Samaritan woman the same thing: true life does not come from external efforts but from the Spirit’s transforming power within.

2. A New Creation: The Miracle of Rebirth

This transformation—this rebirth—is not a slow progression of self-improvement. It is an instantaneous regeneration that happens when the Spirit of God breathes life into us. Paul describes it this way:

"If anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!" (2 Corinthians 5:17)

This is the heart of the Gospel: God does not just fix us—He makes us new. Where sin left us dead, Jesus brings resurrection. Where shame bound us, Jesus brings freedom. The Spirit restores what was lost in Eden, reconnecting us to the Father and empowering us to live in His presence.

Jesus repeatedly emphasizes the necessity of being born of the Spirit . During the Feast of Tabernacles—a celebration of God’s provision—He made an earth-shaking declaration:

"Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” (John 7:37-38)

The Jews understood the significance of water during this festival. Every year, the priests poured out water at the altar, symbolizing God’s provision in the wilderness and their hope for spiritual renewal. But Jesus was saying, I am the fulfillment of this ritual. I am the source of life. Come to Me, and you will never thirst again.

John explains the meaning:

"By this He meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were later to receive." (John 7:39)

3. Spirit, Soul, and Body: Restored by the New Birth

To fully grasp the miracle of new birth, we must understand how God designed us. 1 Thessalonians 5:23 describes us as spirit, soul, and body—a divine order that was disrupted by sin.

• The body is how we experience the physical world.

• The soul (mind, will, and emotions) is where we process thoughts and feelings.

• The spirit is the deepest part of us, designed for communion with God.

Before the Fall, the spirit was alive, the soul was in harmony with God’s will, and the body was untouched by decay. But sin reversed this order: the spirit died, the soul became corrupted, and the body became subject to death.

This is why Jesus said, “You must be born again.” Without spiritual rebirth, we remain disconnected from God, no matter how much knowledge we acquire or how many good works we do. But when we are born again, the Spirit revives our spirit, renews our soul, and empowers our body to walk in the Kingdom of God.

4. The Kingdom is Here—Are You Born Again?

The question Jesus asked Nicodemus is the question we all must answer: Have you been born again? This is not about religious activity or moral effort. This is about transformation—a work that only the Spirit of God can do.

The good news is that this invitation is open to everyone. The moment we place our faith in Jesus, the Spirit breathes life into us, making us new. The wells of human effort dry up, and rivers of living water begin to flow.

I will never forget that night in my apartment when I saw Jesus and realized there was no other way but Him. It was the moment I understood the words He spoke to Nicodemus:

"Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again."

The Kingdom is here. The Spirit is moving. Will you be born again?

Kairos Moment

Understanding Kairos Moments

Ecclesiastes 3:1 tells us, “To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven.” Life moves in different seasons, but not all time is the same. There is Chronos time—the normal passage of time—and Kairos time—those strategic, God-ordained moments when everything changes. Just like nature follows rhythms of change and acceleration, so does our spiritual journey.

In life, there are defining moments—times of acceleration, transition, and transformation. Some moments come and go without much impact, but others are invitations to something greater. I believe that for many of us, right now is a Kairos moment. The question is: Will we recognize it and seize it, or will we let it pass us by?

Recognizing and Seizing Your Kairos Moment

Think about the monarch butterfly—it must migrate at precisely the right time. If it leaves too early, it risks starvation; too late, it may freeze before reaching its destination. The window for movement is small, requiring discernment and immediate action.

Or consider the Chinese bamboo tree—it spends five years underground with no visible growth. Then, in the fifth year, it shoots up 90 feet in a matter of weeks. Many give up on it, assuming nothing is happening, but underground, the roots are preparing for a sudden breakthrough.

Then there’s the lobster—to grow it must shed its old shell, a process called molting. For a time, it becomes completely vulnerable before forming a stronger, larger shell. Some Kairos moments require patient hidden growth; others require stepping into the unknown, embracing discomfort, and trusting God in the transition.

The business world also offers a powerful example in Ronald Wayne, one of the original co-founders of Apple alongside Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak. Out of fear, he sold his 10% stake for $800 just 12 days after the company started. Today, that stake would be worth over $2 billion. He failed to recognize the moment he was in. Fear caused him to miss out on an unimaginable future.

How often do we hesitate at a crossroads, fearing what we might lose rather than considering what we might gain? Just like Ronald Wayne, the rich young ruler in the Bible had an opportunity, but fear of loss held him back.

Biblical Examples of Kairos Moments

In Matthew 4:18-22, Jesus calls His first disciples, saying, “Come, follow me, and I will make you fishers of people.”Peter, Andrew, James, and John immediately left their nets and followed Him. Matthew, a despised tax collector, responded instantly when Jesus called him. Their willingness to drop everything and embrace their Kairos moment changed history.

By contrast, in Mark 10:17-22, the rich young ruler asks Jesus what he must do to inherit eternal life. Jesus tells him to sell his possessions, give to the poor, and follow Him. But the man walks away sad, unable to let go of his wealth. Like Ronald Wayne, he focused on what he might lose rather than what he could gain.

Then there’s Blind Bartimaeus in Mark 10:46-52. As Jesus passes by, Bartimaeus cries out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” The crowd tries to silence him, but he shouts even louder. Jesus stops, calls him over, and asks, “What do you want me to do for you?” Bartimaeus boldly replies, “My Rabbi, I want to see.” Jesus heals him, and Bartimaeus follows Him immediately.

Three Lessons from Bartimaeus

1. He recognized Jesus as his Savior, not just a teacher. Unlike the rich young ruler, who approached Jesus for advice, Bartimaeus saw Him as the one who could transform his life. He didn't just seek wisdom; he sought a miracle.

2. He knew exactly what he needed. When Jesus asked, “What do you want me to do for you?” Bartimaeus didn't hesitate. He was specific: “I want to see.” Do you know the change you are longing for? Are you clear on what you need from Jesus?

3. He persisted despite opposition and acted in faith. The crowd tried to silence him, but he refused to let his moment pass him by. He called out all the louder. Jesus said to him, “Your faith has healed you,” and Bartimaeus immediately followed Him. He didn't just receive a miracle—he responded with devotion.

Your Kairos Moment

Right now, you may be facing a moment of decision. Will you step forward in faith like Bartimaeus, or will you walk away like the rich young ruler? Many people recognize Kairos moments but fail to act. Don’t let fear, uncertainty, or opposition hold you back from what God has for you.

Years ago, I found myself at a crossroads. I was bound in addiction, pursuing worldly success, with all the right connections and opportunities. But deep down, I was searching for something greater. Like the rich young ruler, I had everything but still felt empty. Like Bartimaeus, I had a deep hunger for change. When I encountered Jesus, everything shifted.

Today, I see myself in both stories—the broken, blind Bartimaeus and the proud, self-righteous young ruler. Jesus, in His mercy, humbled me and set me free. And now, I’m here to tell you: this is your Kairos moment.

Will you call out to Jesus? Will you recognize the opportunity He’s placing in front of you? Will you push past the voices of doubt and fear?

If you know that today is your moment, don’t hesitate. Respond. Seize your Kairos moment. Step into what God has for you.