Yesterday morning, I woke up so excited ... and nervous. It was the day of my baptism and I knew I had something to say, but I wasn't so sure how I would get it out. I get nervous sometimes when I am talking in front of people. I shake. Bad.
All morning I rehearsed what I would say. I walked around the sanctuary during intercession ... and practiced what I would say. I stood on the balcony and practiced what I would say. I recited it over and over again. I didn't want to leave anything out.
Then it was time. We were to go to the baptismal area and wait for Pastor to enter. I was shaking so bad. I was so excited! I had been baptized as a little girl, but not in obedience to Christ ... not as a profession of my faith. I was baptized because I was told I was supposed to be baptized. This time was different. This time I was being baptized as an adult, soundly saved, follower of Christ.
I began to pray. I needed God to calm me, to send me some peace so I wouldn't shake so bad! But, before I ended that prayer, I told God this ...
Another lady was to go before me, but Pastor asked for me to come in first. He told me to tell everyone my name and why I wanted to be baptized. I can't promise this is it, word for word, but this is what I am pretty sure I said:
God did not give me the peace I needed so that I would not shake while I spoke. I shook something fierce the whole time. I even had to close my eyes a couple of times. I didn't say what I had rehearsed, but I do believe God answered my prayer in that what I said glorified Him.
And, that is what counts. :)
Now, I am trusting on my Lord and Savior so that I may enter into paradise one day. Not because I was good. Not because I was worthy. I am neither. But, I am loved and blessed and forever indebted to Jesus for taking my sins upon Himself. I professed Him before men. He promises to profess me before the Father.
If you are not saved, please stop playing games with your eternity. You can't be good enough to get to heaven. You can't argue your way in. No manner of excuses will get you through the gates. You must repent, turn from your sin, and place your trust in Christ alone for your salvation. Then read your Bible and obey it.
All morning I rehearsed what I would say. I walked around the sanctuary during intercession ... and practiced what I would say. I stood on the balcony and practiced what I would say. I recited it over and over again. I didn't want to leave anything out.
Then it was time. We were to go to the baptismal area and wait for Pastor to enter. I was shaking so bad. I was so excited! I had been baptized as a little girl, but not in obedience to Christ ... not as a profession of my faith. I was baptized because I was told I was supposed to be baptized. This time was different. This time I was being baptized as an adult, soundly saved, follower of Christ.
I began to pray. I needed God to calm me, to send me some peace so I wouldn't shake so bad! But, before I ended that prayer, I told God this ...
"Lord, no matter what I have rehearsed today ... let what I say glorify You."
Another lady was to go before me, but Pastor asked for me to come in first. He told me to tell everyone my name and why I wanted to be baptized. I can't promise this is it, word for word, but this is what I am pretty sure I said:
When I was nine years old, I answered an altar call and I was baptized shortly after. But, when I became a teenager, I fell away from the church and my faith and I lived like that for many, many years. And, during that time, you couldn't have convinced me that I was not going to Heaven even though I lived like the devil. I had said that prayer. I was a good person. I didn't go around killing people or anything. And, I would tell God I was sorry when I did something wrong, even when I knew I was going to do the exact same thing again ... five ... minutes ... later.
Then one day the Lord led me to a website and it took me through the Ten Commandments, God's standard of good. And, I realized I wasn't a good person. I was lost and I desperately needed a Savior. I repented and placed my trust in Christ for my salvation.
And, I guess I am saying this today because if your hope of heaven is in a prayer, then you have no hope at all. Jesus did not live a sinless life, or die a horrible death on a cross, or raise Himself in three days so you could place your hope in a prayer. No, He did it so that you could repent and place your faith and trust in Him alone for your salvation and have a relationship with Him.
God did not give me the peace I needed so that I would not shake while I spoke. I shook something fierce the whole time. I even had to close my eyes a couple of times. I didn't say what I had rehearsed, but I do believe God answered my prayer in that what I said glorified Him.
And, that is what counts. :)
Now, I am trusting on my Lord and Savior so that I may enter into paradise one day. Not because I was good. Not because I was worthy. I am neither. But, I am loved and blessed and forever indebted to Jesus for taking my sins upon Himself. I professed Him before men. He promises to profess me before the Father.
If you are not saved, please stop playing games with your eternity. You can't be good enough to get to heaven. You can't argue your way in. No manner of excuses will get you through the gates. You must repent, turn from your sin, and place your trust in Christ alone for your salvation. Then read your Bible and obey it.
