NATHAN'S TWO BIRTHDAYS!
Houston Bynum

As parents, we love our children and believe that all of our children are special. But let me tell you about a very special child I know in Jefferson, GA and about his unique birthday. Nathan Johnston was born on April 1, 1997, but that is not his only birthday. Nathan was born into this world having a congenital heart disorder. At the young age of two years old, he became one of the youngest recipients of a HEART TRANSPLANT and began a "new life" on August 18, 1999. So Nathan enjoys celebrating his two birthdays each year: his actual birthday on April 1, and then he celebrates his new heart birthday on August 18. Big brother Ty and the whole family celebrate Nathan's new heart birthday-complete with a heart-shaped cake and gifts. What a blessing Nathan is, and what a blessing his parents Pete & Tina Johnston are to encourage other families who experience the heart surgeries of their children (You may contact them at phillipjohnston@windstream.net).

As you reflect on Nathan's two birthdays, consider this biblical parallel: God desires for every accountable person to have two birthdays: a physical birth and a spiritual birth.

First, by PHYSICAL BIRTH, each person has a date of birth into the natural world. God is the one who gives us physical birth (Deut. 32:18). God put the first husband and wife on earth by means of a miracle (Gen. 1-2); He continues the human race through His divine law of procreation (Gen. 3). Since everyone in humanity ultimately owes his origin to God, God is the Father of us all-physically.

Second, by SPIRITUAL BIRTH, every accountable person who is baptized has a date of birth into the spiritual kingdom known as the church. Jesus describes this new birth as being "born again" as we are "born of water and the Spirit" (Jn. 3:1-8, NKJV); we are "newborn babes" (1 Pet. 2:2)-a "new creation" (2 Cor. 5:17). We learn from Peter that baptism (the new birth) saves us, and through this spiritual birthday, we receive a new heart ("good conscience") (1 Pet. 3:21). This new heart seeks first Jesus and His church (Mt. 6:33). This new heart loves God supremely and loves his neighbor as himself (Lk. 10:27). This new heart blesses the lives of others by sharing the gospel (Mk. 16:15-16), by demonstrating the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23), and by showing the Christian graces (2 Pet. 1:5-11). This new heart lays up treasures in heaven (Mt. 6:19-20).

Regarding the subjects of birth and death, someone once said, "BORN ONCE-DIE TWICE; BORN TWICE-DIE ONCE." Let's consider each of these:

"BORN ONCE-DIE TWICE." For every accountable person, if that person has only experienced physical birth, there is both physical death (Heb. 9:27) and the second death (eternal punishment in hell) (Rev. 21:8).

"BORN TWICE-DIE ONCE." However, if an accountable person has experienced both physical birth and the new birth (baptism), for all who live faithful, there is just one physical death and the gift of eternal life in heaven (Rev. 2:10; Rom. 6:23).

So the next time you think about your birthday, think about Nathan and his two birthdays.
Have you been "BORN TWICE"? If you have only been "BORN ONCE" (physical birth), you need to be "BORN TWICE" (spiritual birth by being baptized into Christ for the remission of your sins, Acts 2:38). By the NEW BIRTH (Jn. 3:3, 5), you can have your 2nd birthday today through immersion and receive your new, spiritual heart from God (Acts 15:9; Heb. 10:22).

Houston Bynum is the pulpit minister at LaVergne church of Christ in LaVergne, Tenn. He can be contacted by e-mail at hhbynum@yahoo.com