A New Creation

One of the best things about being a Christian is the sense of family you receive when you become a believer. You become part of God's family. That is a community formed by Him that knows no race or creed other than a unifying belief in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.  The New Testament tells us that when we ask Christ into our hearts, we become a new creation:  the old is gone, and the new has come.

I was asked by The Grove Community Church (my home church) to take pictures at our recent baptism. Twenty people were scheduled to be baptized. They came in all shapes, sizes, age, and backgrounds. There were single women. There was a group of three young brothers. There was a mom and her two daughters. There were old men and there were young men. We often try as a society to form and legislate what a family should look like. But God has already done that His word and His unifying love.

Pastors Kerry Warren, left, and Mike Barnes baptize a man.

There was a nice soft cloud cover over the event which made it easy to capture the moments.

And there were many. There were laughs, tears, and smiles. When folks get into the water, they make their way to the microphone and tell the audience why they want to get baptized.

A young girl makes a commitment to follow Christ.

“I want Jesus to know that I've accepted him in my heart,” said one 6-year-old.

“I want to testify for Him,” said a middle-aged man who wrote out his testimony.

“I want to be a better wife and mother and I can't do it on my own,” said a tearful young woman.

The display of baptism is one of leaving your old self behind and becoming something new. The world and its problems, and our problems in it do not go away. But we begin a new life with a new perspective knowing that we serve the One who has conquered all. And we now live with a new purpose and a new goal which is to serve God by loving Him and serving all people. Our lives become a testament to others that true hope comes from Christ and that all of life's burden is carried by Him.

A young wife and mother starts her life over.

I loved that I was able to capture the beginning of a new life of faith for 20 people that day.For baptism is a life-changing experience:

For those that feel they cannot manage alone, they will now know that God shares their load as described in Matthew 11: “You will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

For those that may not have an earthly father that they can turn to, they now have a Heavenly Father who is described in Isaiah 9: 6 as Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace.

For those that feel the unrest of this life, or have ever felt betrayal they can have a new understanding about a true peace. Jesus Himself told his apostles what that means: “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14: 27)

As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. (Joshua 24:15)

They will learn how to rely on the Lord and be able to trust Him even when times are tough: “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
 (John 16: 33)

I remember fondly when my son was baptized in 2007.  He had made a decision to ask Christ into his heart. He was baptized in same baptismal that I was at today.  Since that time I have seen him grow from a boy towards becoming a man.  But my deepest joy has come from seeing him grow in his faith.  We have served together on many weekend trips with his youth group where he learned about being a to servant to others. He is currently getting ready to embark on his first mission trip which will be to San Francisco.  He's also attending mid-week service with the junior high group and has just started attending a Bible study.  He was able to tell his mother the other day during a discussion, "Mom, God doesn't want me to lie."

Like most parents, we groom our kids to become independent.  Its both exciting and also difficult to watch your kids grow, knowing that one day they will be out from under your wing.  But its comforting to know that they will never be away from God's eternal protection.  Thanks to God that they are new creations that will be groomed spiritually in this world in preparation for the next one in Heaven.

My son's baptism:  A defining moment in both our lives.

So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. (Galatians 3: 26-27)