Genetics

“For you have been born again…” (1 Peter 1:23)

Genetics are amazing. Science has proven what people have known almost from the beginning of time: Characteristics—physical and otherwise—can be passed on through a family line.

I have a friend who has three sons. He also has an old photograph of his extended family. You know, mom and dad, brothers and sisters, aunts, uncles, cousins. When I saw the picture, I could easily pick out each of his sons. Oh, don’t misunderstand. This photo was taken long before my friend’s boys were even born. But they bear an uncanny resemblance to three of my friend’s uncles. It actually seemed a little weird seeing these three young adults—my friend’s sons—whom I know personally, dressed in clothes from the sixties.

My youngest son Stephen looks and acts so much like my father, it’s scary at times. From his very full and obvious facial hair (Stephen has been shaving daily since he was fourteen!) to his physical size to certain social characteristics and even a very strong affinity for peach cobbler. And I’m only mentioning the traits that seem to have skipped over me. The odd thing is that, because my dad passed away more than thirty years ago, Stephen never even knew him. All these traits are apparently somehow inside of Stephen through his genetics. Amazing!

“You have been born again.” Yes, you were adopted into the family of God, but you were somehow born anew into it, also. In some supernatural way, the Lord caused you to become born again. And since you’ve been born into the family of God, you have inherited characteristics of your Father and your older brother, Jesus.