The role of baptism

My granddaughter is four years old and took her first swimming lessons this summer. I found it fascinating because she wasn't scared of the water.

She fearlessly jumped into water that was deep knowing full well that the lifeguard would not let her drown.

Wouldn't it be wonderful if everyone in the world recognized that we all have a lifeguard who will catch us and never let us drown?

That lifeguard is Jesus Christ. All we need to do is jump into the water and be baptized.

Baptism is something that churches view in different ways. The Methodists see it like this: “Water Baptism is the outward expression or symbol of the spiritual joining with Christ.”

We believe that baptism is a sacrament but isn't necessary to get into heaven.

If you die not baptized, Jesus will still be there to welcome you because the moment you accepted Him as your Savior, you became part of the family of God.

So, why should we be baptized?

Well, baptism helps us remember all that Christ has done for us and all that our Lord continues to do in our lives.

Through baptism, we remember and share the story with others that they might be saved also. It is our testimony of what we know to be true.

In the Bible, you will see that water is very symbolic. Water has been important from the beginning. For example, in Genesis 1:2 it says, “The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.”

God took those ugly waters and created something wonderful. God has used water many times to bring order out of chaos, and that is what is done for us through baptism. We use water to symbolize the act of bringing order to our lives by joining ourselves with Christ.

Through our baptism, we see that beginning of God's story, the conclusion and everything in between. Despite the fact that we are imperfect, through baptism, we can see the second coming of Christ and we can see eternity.

Today, take a moment to think about what the water represents and to remember your own baptism. If you have not been baptized, consider what baptism is and how it could change your life. It might be something that you would like to do in the future.

God wants you to be part of the family of God and our Lord continually invites you to join. Please consider the invitation and RSVP soon.