antique-art-bookcase-1301585

Nic sat in his library late one night, comfortably reclining in his armchair as he looked at the many volumes of important and interesting books shelved around him. These books summed up a lifetime of learning, studying each and every book with the intensity of the scholar he was. Among his friends and associates, this was not unusual. Many evenings he had gathered here in this very place, enjoying a lively discussion about the many elements of theology this library represented. Life had been good to Nic. He had a great job and he held a high position not only at work but within his community. Nic’s vast library summed up much about him. He pondered this thought- his wealth was vast like the number of books housed here. His stature among the community was lofty like the top shelf, far out of reach. Many would say he had everything he could ever want, his wealth spilling over like the books piling up on his desk in the corner. rn Yet, alone in the silence of the evening, here he was. Wondering. Searching. Hoping. rn A Teacher had been in town for a little while now. Longer still in the wider region. Nic had heard much about him long before he arrived here. How could he not? This Teacher, he was saying things that no one dared to speak before. Nic wrote this all off when he was first heard about him. A charismatic motivational speaker, he had thought. Someone who was polished, he knew what he wanted to say and he could woo the crowd, that was all. However, as The Teacher came closer, Nic had to admit he wanted to listen. His friends invited him along to hear the man teach one day recently. Nic went along, armed, along with the rest of his group, with some tricky intellectual questions. They were convinced The Teacher would crumple under their scrutiny. After all, they were the leading authority in such matters! rn It didn’t go how Nic anticipated. The Teacher, well…he was…he had a presence about him that Nic simply couldn’t explain. He couldn’t reason or argue with the man. He was humble, yet held great authority over the matters he spoke about. Something was stirring in Nic’s heart. rn So here he sat, in the middle of his library, late one night after his encounter with The Teacher. Nic had asked around and found out where The Teacher would be late at night. He went under the cover of darkness. He couldn’t risk being seen by his friends. When Nic approached The Teacher, he seemed to be waiting for him. His smile seemed to reach into Nic’s very heart and some kind of new warmth and hope had grown there for an instant. Nic had shaken himself free of the mans gaze. He was here for information. Wasn’t he? Feeling slightly derailed already, Nic had pressed on. He had theology he wanted to discuss. The Teacher…he had somehow cut right through Nic’s carefully crafted exterior and found his heart. He told Nic that he would never find what he was looking for by simply studying theology. He told Nic he could get it by being born again! With his kind eyes and patient way, The Teacher had told Nic it wasn’t about doing and discussing, but allowing The Teacher to change him…rnAnd so, Nic sat. Late into the night. Pondering The Teachers words and realising that the books in his library were actually not the way to the Kingdom.rnCould it be that The Teacher was? rnrnrnrn If you want to read the story of Nicodemus, you can find it in the gospel of John, Chapter 3. We have taken creative license here in the retelling of his story because we want to bring home the idea that Nic’s story is often very similar to ours. It is so easy to get caught up in the things we are doing and the study we undertake that we lose sight of our beautiful Saviour and being with Him. Isn’t that why we feel unsettled? Like there must be more? rn If our walk with God doesn’t change us, if we aren’t growing closer to The Teacher each day, allowing him to become a deep part of our lives, aren’t we just settling for dry religion? rn It’s time for change. The Teacher wants to give each of us a fresh experience- he longs to be our Living Water.rnJoin us on a journey as we consider our need for a personal revival and take steps closer to Jesus.