What prepared her for
an eternal dwelling with Christ? Was it
her conversion to Jesus at the hospital or her baptism at home?
Like with Terry, I
have been at the bedside of the dying many times and I am greatly concerned
over the misunderstanding about baptism.
If someone is fatally sick, knows their time is short, and realizes they
have never been baptized, they may request a clergyperson to come and
administer it, giving them a false sense of confidence,that they will go to
heaven (because of their baptism).
Baptism is a part of
our American religious culture. Millions
of followers in Catholic and Protestant churches have experienced the
sacrament. From infants, to youth and
adults, men and women have been baptized during memorable religious ceremonies
filled with family and friends.
Sometimes it is a quiet, solemn, reverent event. At other times it is filled with hoots and
hollers. The occasion is looked upon as an
important religious milestone in a person’s spiritual life.
Whydoes someone get
baptized? Simple. It is a command given by God in the Bible,
“Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the
forgiveness of your sins . . .” (Acts 2:38)
If you have ever attended
a baptism ceremony here is the meaning of it.
As a person stands ready to be baptized, they are a picture of their old
self, standing dead in their sin, just as Jesus hung dead upon His cross. Then as Jesus was buried, so they are
buried. Their old self gets buried in
the waters of baptism. The water is an
image of the Holy Spirit washing them of all their sin while being immersed
into the life of Christ and His church. Then
as Jesus rose from His grave with a resurrected body, so the one being baptized
rises up out of the water, a new creation.
The old is gone. The new has
come.It is a powerful thing to watch, an honor to administer, but most of all, it
is life changing to personally experience, as I have. The mighty grace of God is almost palpable in
those moments.
What is the singular
most important focus in baptism? Jesus. It is not the water. It is not the Pastor or Priest. It is not the one being baptized. It is Jesus.
Baptism is foremost a picture of Christ’s work on the cross. His suffering, death, burial and resurrection
from the dead.
Sometimes we can
elevate the pomp and circumstance of a baptism ceremony above Christ. We can elevate the water itself above Him,
believing it becomes holy or takes on some type of mystical form. We can also elevate the sacrament itself above
Christ, thinking that through it we can secure the eternal salvation of our
soul.
Let me be as blunt
and truthful as I can. Unless you have
turned from your sins and to Christ, and unless you have placed your full trust
in Christ alone; your baptism is meaningless and of no spiritual value
whatsoever. Do not believe anyone who
says otherwise. Your baptism is not
enough to forgive your sins. It is just
mere water. Only the blood of Jesus,
which was shed from His cross can save you.
Thankfully, Terry understood this when she cried out to Jesus in her
hospital bed. I pray you will do the
same.
A prayer for you - “Lord God, if there is someone
reading this that has been deceived, believing the waters of baptism are
greater than the atoning blood of Jesus, open their eyes to see the truth. Bring them to turn from trusting in a
ceremony, and to repent of their sin and trust in Christ alone for their
salvation. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”
