You may have heard the phrase “to be born again” before. Like Nicodemus, you might have wondered:
“How can someone be born when they are old? Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!” (John 3:4).
Of course, being born again does not mean physically returning to your mother’s womb. Instead, it’s a metaphor for going through each step that leads to a new life. I invite you to join me in this exploration, where the biological process of conception becomes a vivid picture of spiritual rebirth. My hope is that this concept will come alive for you—not as an abstract idea, but as something tangible, something you can envision clearly.
The Beginning of Life
The Larousse dictionary defines birth as “the point or moment when something begins.” When applied to human beings, it refers to the start of an independent existence outside the mother’s body. This complex process begins with fertilization, which takes place in the uterus. The uterus, a place of refuge, becomes the dwelling where the fetus grows until it is fully mature, typically over nine months.
Source : Canva
An Incorruptible Seed
Fertilization occurs when a sperm meets an egg. The egg, a reproductive cell produced by the female body, is released each month from one of the two ovaries. Once the egg is captured by the fallopian tube, it begins its journey, waiting for a potential encounter. If that encounter happens, life begins.
In the same way, spiritual rebirth begins with a seed. But unlike the human seed, this one is incorruptible. It does not decay or perish, but it transforms everything it touches.
“For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God” (1 Peter 1:23).
Just as the physical seed gives life to a new being, the incorruptible seed, which is the Word of God, brings about a deep, eternal transformation in us.
Establishing in Rest
After fertilization, the fertilized egg begins to develop as it slowly makes its way to the uterus, where it implants itself in the endometrium, a protective and nourishing wall. This implantation happens around the seventh day. There, in this place of safety, the fetus will grow, receiving everything it needs to thrive.
This period of rest echoes something deeply meaningful in Scripture. On the seventh day, God completed His work and rested:
“By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work” (Genesis 2:2).
This rest isn’t just about ceasing activity—it represents a place or even a person: Christ Himself.
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:28-29).
Just as the embryo finds an ideal environment in the uterus to grow, those who are born again must root themselves deeply in God’s Word to grow spiritually.
“So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in Him, rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught” (Colossians 2:6-7).
The umbilical cord, which connects the fetus to its mother, offers a striking image of this connection. Composed of three blood vessels, it can symbolize the Trinity: The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit—a threefold cord that is not easily broken.
Source : Canva
The Face-to-Face Encounter
Throughout the nine months of gestation, the fetus is in constant contact with its mother, yet it cannot see her face-to-face. It is only at birth that the child meets the one who carried it.
The same is true for the children of God. Today, we see God as though through a reflection:
“For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known” (1 Corinthians 13:12).
Before this encounter, however, there is a narrow passage to go through—the process of being born.
The Narrow Gate
In childbirth, the baby’s position is critical—it must engage head first. This journey through the birth canal places pressure on the baby’s head, sometimes even temporarily altering its shape. Yet, this process is necessary for birth.
Similarly, spiritual rebirth requires passing through a narrow gate, a constricted path that reshapes and transforms our inner being.
“But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it” (Matthew 7:14).
This passage represents the renewal of our minds, a profound transformation that prepares us to encounter God.
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will” (Romans 12:2).
Conclusion
Natural birth is a powerful image of spiritual rebirth. From the incorruptible seed to finding rest in Christ, each step mirrors the process by which God transforms us and leads us into new life. And just as a child eventually sees its mother face to face, we, as God’s children, are called to one day behold the glory of our Father.
This journey of transformation is not just a metaphor—it’s a profound, living reality available to all who believe.
