Biblical Imagery of Conversion

There's a lot of powerful imagery in the Bible that God uses to get across his point. Metaphors and similes are usually only used to make a single point of emphasis, often highlighting either human sin or God's grace. For example, the common OT metaphor of Israel as a prostitute is meant to vividly portray their idolatry in turning from God to worship man-made things. Some of the most powerful metaphors are used to reveal the nature of conversion. As a rule, these metaphors should not be pushed to have multiple and complex meanings. The surface-level meanings are profound enough.

What I see in each of the following passages is that conversion is solely God's work and is completely dependent on his will alone. God uses means to accomplish his purposes, and these means are also his designs. Consider these passages

New Birth: John 3:1-15
"Jesus answered him, 'Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God."

Creation: 2 Corinthians 4:6, 5:17
"For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ."

5:17 "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come."

Abandoned Newborn: Ezekiel 16:4-6 and following

"And as for your birth, on the day you were born your cord was not cut, nor were you washed with water to cleanse you, nor rubbed with salt, nor wrapped in swaddling cloths. 5 No eye pitied you, to do any of these things to you out of compassion for you, but you were cast out on the open field, for you were abhorred, on the day that you were born.

6 “And when I passed by you and saw you wallowing in your blood, I said to you in your blood, ‘Live!’ I said to you in your blood, ‘Live!’"

I believe that the message of these metaphors is simple and powerful: Conversion is God's work alone. Does a newborn lying on the ground decide to accept the grace of the person who picks him up and cares for him? Does a baby consent to being born? (in fact, if babies could choose, they'd probably prefer to stay in the womb rather than come out!) Does an uncreated thing agree to being created? The obvious answer to each of these questions is 'NO'. God is not restricted by humans, and it is his free decision to overcome and change the human will in conversion. On the most basic level we have no say in the matter.