There are sayings in many languages about the difficulty of changing long-established
habits. In English, “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.” In French, “Ce
n’est pas à un vieux singe qu’on apprend à faire la grimace” (You can’t
teach an old monkey how to pull a funny face). In Spanish, “El loro viejo no
aprende a hablar” (An old parrot can’t learn to speak).
When Jesus told Nicodemus that he must be “born again” to “see the
kingdom of God,” he replied, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he
enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” (John 3:3-4). Professor
and author Merrill Tenney suggests that Nicodemus was saying, in effect, “I
acknowledge that a new birth is necessary, but I am too old to change. My
pattern of life is set. Physical birth is out of the question and psychological
rebirth seems even less probable . . . . Is not my case hopeless?”
Jesus’ reply included these words, “For God so loved the world that He
gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but
have everlasting life” (v.16). That is the offer of new life and a new
beginning for anyone, young or old.
Whatever our age or situation in life, with God’s power, it’s not too late to change.
