Four years ago, as a six year old in our home office, our daughter prayed, “God save me.” Vera had learned that there were two destinations—heaven and hell—and she couldnt get to heaven by her own effort. She conceded that there were, in fact, wrong things she did and those wrong things separated her from God. In short, she saw herself as a sinner who needed saving.
She told us about her decision, we rejoiced, and then...carried on with life. There was schoolwork to finish, meals to be made, and toilets to be cleaned.
The next summer, at a Christian family camp she rededicated her life to Christ. She knew she needed God’s help to walk the Christian life. She couldn’t do it alone. She eventually told us about her rededication, we rejoiced, and then...carried on with life. There were practices to get to, bills to be paid, and innumerable fights to referee between the kids.
Then, last summer, Vera told us for the third time that she really wanted to be baptized. We again rejoiced and really meant to take action, but...life happened. Baptism Sunday came and went. We watched and rejoiced for others and silently noticed the sadness in Vera’s eyes; we weren’t prioritizing this important decision in her life.
But this summer, amidst a crazy and unprecedented time, God again brought baptism up and we knew it was time. God wouldn’t let us forget. We asked Vera to forgive our half-hearted, flighty responses to her pure faith these past four years and thanked her for her patience and grace. In God’s plan, this was the story for her.
Vera stood before our church family and made her public profession of faith and was baptized. Her act, strange as it may be, is the way Christians declare to the world that they believe and intend to stand with Christ. It is God's declaration that each new believer is a beloved son or daughter, accepted, forgiven, and made new in Christ.
Just as Vera waited on the Lord these past four years, I pray she continues that discipline into adulthood. There will always be something; some not-yet yearning, some deferred hope, some seemingly unanswered prayer, that tempts her to doubt, or worse, despair. She will need to trust God’s goodness and nearness when her feelings tell her He is far off and uncaring.
"He is not far from each one of us," Acts 17:27 tells us. If a single sparrow doesn't fall to the ground apart from God's will (Matthew 10:29), if the very hairs of our head are numbered (Matthew 10:30), then we can trust that God sees us in all of our circumstances, and what is more, He cares. 2 Peter 3:9 shows us God's heart. God is patient with us, not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance.
God saw Vera’s heart when she cried out for salvation four years ago and He sees you where you are. He drew me and has drawn my daughter out of our former way of life and is patiently calling us to walk with Him. He has set His love upon us and called us His own. He can do the same for you.
Maybe you are carrying the pain of an unanswered prayer or unfulfilled longing. Let me remind you of the character of God who left heaven for you. God sent His only Son into this sin-stained world to pay the ultimate price for you. When Jesus walked this earth sinless and was crucified on the cross, God's wrath was poured out on him. The wrath and punishment that our sins deserve was poured out on Jesus, the innocent and spotless Lamb of God. The glorious hope of the gospel is that our sins can be forgiven in Christ.
But Jesus didn’t stay in the grave having merely paid the punishment for our sins. He rose again, showing us a new way forward. As he was made new, we are made new in Christ. Our old way of life is gone, and a new way is ushered in. Be it ever so slowly, this new way changes us.
This begins when we are converted and will see its ultimate fulfillment when Christ returns and brings with Him a literal new heavens and new earth. The dead in Christ will rise first, out of their graves, just as Jesus resurrected from the grave (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17). Then, those who remain will be changed and clothed with immortality (1 Corinthians 15:51-52).
To meditate on this reality is surreal, like a sci-fi thriller. Preposterous even. But what is faith? Hebrews 11:1 tells us it is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things unseen. This unbelievable promise, laughable by so many, what if it were true? Acts 17 goes on to say that some mocked at the resurrection of the dead, but others wanted to hear more on the matter. What about you?
What if we needed to remember the promise of Christ's second coming as desperately as we need oxygen to breathe? 1 Thessalonians 4;18 says, “comfort one another with these words.” I can think of a dozen different emotions that come to my mind before comfort. But this is what the day of the Lord should evoke in His people. Lord, increase my faith. Help me in my believing when naysayers rage and unbelief threatens.
Until that day, I pray for God to help me in my waiting. As I wipe bottoms, juggle schedules, and figure out online platforms. As I surrender to and simultaneously fight against the constant flow of screens and yearn for true connection. As I scrounge up food, rerun the forgotten load of laundry, and play a game of slapjack with my daughter. As I navigate teenage emotions, sort through my own marital conflict, and try to find my mask in the bottom of my purse. In all my waiting, remind me, Father, that I am standing on holy ground. And remind Vera, too. As Psalm 27 instructs, help us take heart, be of good courage, and wait upon the Lord.
Maybe you have never cried out to God for salvation. Why wait any longer? I pray the Holy Spirit stirs in your heart and causes you to believe. Ridiculous as it may sound, if He can spark such a faith in me and my daughter, He can do it for you.
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