What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. For one who has died has been set free from sin. Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.
Romans 6:1-11
Three weeks ago I attended church for the first time in a long time. I felt that it was time that I built a better relationship with God and Jesus Christ. Since then, it seems everything that I’ve read and listened to has spoken to me. Almost as if God himself is steering me on a course I never thought I’d be on. Even after attending my first service I hadn’t really given a thought to being baptized. I had not lived a very holy life and wasn’t sure if I could ever be redeemed for my past. But that is the great thing about God. No matter what I’ve done, I can be forgiven. A friend told me you know when you’re ready to be baptized.
Today during his sermon, the pastor offered the opportunity for anyone interested to become baptized. After every sermon the band plays. While the band was playing I was singing along. And then this overwhelming feeling hit me. I stopped singing and started thinking to myself “I want to be baptized. I want the old me to die and the new me to follow Jesus Christ.” I turned to my friend and whispered to her “I want to do it.” There were no second thoughts or doubts. I knew this was exactly what I wanted to do. I wanted to dedicate the rest of my life to following Jesus Christ.
I was shaking. This was the biggest moment in my entire life. I was committing my whole heart to Jesus Christ. Then the shaking went away and I started crying. I’ve never been a very emotional person and very rarely cry about anything. But that was how I knew I was doing the right thing. It was a feeling that I cannot describe. But it was one of the best feelings I have ever experienced. Even now, writing this, I feel nothing but happiness and love. Love for Jesus Christ.
There I stood, in the water, in front of hundreds of strangers ready to commit my life to following Jesus Christ. I’ve never been one to feel comfortable standing in front of strangers but I was so happy that I could share this moment with these people and my friends.
Someone asked me “do you know what you’re doing.” But all I could say was yes. Granted now that I think about that moment again, there was so much more that I could say. But all I could think about was that I was going to be a new person. I was not going to be the old me who did what she wanted without thinking of the consequences. The girl who went against her gut. No. I was going to become the girl that was giving everything she had into following Jesus Christ.
Some people might think that I’m just playing along or jumping the gun. That it’s a new hobby.
But I’ve spent too long JUST being a Christian and not living the lifestyle. Maybe some people don’t understand what I’m doing. But I do know that this is a lifetime commitment. I don’t want to be JUST a Christian. I am now a follower of Jesus Christ.
Journey to Faith 