In the midnight hour, beyond the sleeping city’s walls, a shadowy figure flitted through the olive groves. Eventually, away from prying eyes, he found whom he was looking for — Jesus of Nazareth. Nicodemus had heard of Jesus’ teachings, and his curiosity was aroused, so he left the stubbornly unreceptive populace of Jerusalem to listen to this missionary from Galilee.

“Rabbi . . .” he said. He recognized in Jesus someone special but nothing more, as yet. Jesus did not dispute His identity with Nicodemus but turned the focus back to Nicodemus and his spiritual needs. “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3). The verb for “see” is not to physically see but to see with the mind — to perceive, to discern. Jesus was speaking of the truths of the Kingdom, lived and experienced personally. Nicodemus was surprised, feeling no need for personal change and somewhat annoyed at Jesus’ questioning of the veracity of his faith and social standing. What did this stranger from Galilee know anyway?

Jesus persisted, telling Nicodemus that we must be born again to be saved. “Do not be astonished that I said to you (singular), ‘You (plural) must be born from above” (John 3:7). Thus, Jesus was speaking truth not merely to Nicodemus (singular), but to all (plural) who would be born again. To be saved, we must all be born again — Nicodemus, you and me. We are born again by looking to Jesus in faith, just as the Israelites were commanded by Moses to look in faith at the bronze serpent and live (Numbers 21:8).

Genuine conversion is critical for all missionary labors. Conversion brings joy in personal witnessing (Testimonies Vol. 9, p. 30), sacrificial giving for the advance of the gospel (Testimonies Vol. 9, p. 53), unity among brethren (Testimonies Vol. 9, p. 147) and makes the Body winsome for new disciples (Testimonies Vol. 6, p. 371). The disciples consistently misunderstood Jesus’ teachings on discipleship throughout their three and a half years with Jesus. This misunderstanding persisted throughout the Passion Week, extending beyond His resurrection to His very ascension (Acts 1:6). Jesus responded by entrusting to these faulty disciples the greatest task ever given: to be His ambassadors to the unreached. Without Him, they would fail. With Him, they would conquer. They were to remain in Jerusalem and wait until the Holy Spirit descended upon them. Then the gospel would go forth with resurrection power to the very ends of the earth via truly converted men and women, boys and girls.

As 2024 unfolds, the future looks murky. Some are filled with apprehension and foreboding for what they fear is coming upon our nation and the whole world. Fearmongers abound. To be sure, in looking to earthly leaders and political parties, our hearts are easily (and only) troubled. Yet, Jesus taught us to not let our hearts be troubled because He is coming again for His own. When the hearts of humanity fill with fear, we are to be prisoners of hope and to stand up and raise our heads, for our redemption draweth nigh.

How is this possible? How will missionary work be effective? How will the gospel go forward? By experiencing true conversion, each of us, on a personal level. This happens as we each look in faith, emptied of self-worth, to our place-taking, sin-bearing and soon-coming Savior, trusting in His love, grace and righteousness to be born afresh each morn. When the world sees the character of Christ reproduced in His ambassadors, they will know the gospel is true and that it can both transform and save the lost. Only thus will the world be lit by a manifestation of God’s character as it stumbles into economic ruin and social and religious confusion, and only thus can the call to “Come out of Babylon” go with resurrection power to the ends of the earth. It begins with me. And with you. Today. On our knees. Before our Creator. Mission is the story of answered prayer . . . and converted hearts. May this be our story through 2024.

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