I have quoted C.S. Lewis many times. His perspective as an atheist turned outspoken follower of Christ gave him a clarity much like that of the Apostle Paul. This quote describes his conversion from rebel to child of God. “Fallen man is not simply an imperfect creature who needs improvement: he is a rebel who must lay down his arms. Laying down your arms, surrendering, saying you are sorry, realizing that you have been on the wrong track and getting ready to start life over from the ground floor – that is the only way out of our hole. This process of surrender – this turning full speed astern – is what Christians call repentance.”
Starting life over from the ground floor is just another way of describing the spiritual rebirth Jesus describes in the third chapter of the Gospel of John. It is the beginning of our eternal, Christian life. It is good to look back at that beginning once in a while to see how far we have come on the right track. Life is not a competition. The only comparison that matters is how I compare today to how I used to be yesterday.
Every true Christian believer has experienced the new life that comes through our repentance. However, each of us is a unique original – traveling at our own pace and in our own way with God guiding us.
If you are reading this and have not experienced the new spiritual birth that comes with repentance, now is your chance. Cease rebelling against God, surrender to Him, tell Him you are sorry, ask Him to turn you around and start you on a new road that leads to Him and eternal life. He will answer your sincere prayer and you will never regret that decision.