Written by Ian Ashby

By Ian Ashby

June 28. What a day at the beach! It was windy, it was rainy, it was overcast! But a good crowd gathered on the otherwise empty shore to witness baptisms in the ocean. Seven people waded out to sea, to be plunged into the freezing water as they committed their lives to following Jesus. No fair weather Christians here, they meant business! This was to be their burial, a death to the old life. But unlike most funerals, this one was full of celebration and tears of joy.

That’s because baptism is about a new beginning. On the cross, Jesus died our death so that we could share his life. Baptism promises that just as Jesus died, was buried and then was raised to life, so will all who follow him. Baptism is the gateway, it leads to a whole new life that even physical death cannot interrupt. For these seven, eternal life starts now!

That does not mean that life in the present will be easy. On the road ahead, there may be bright sunny days as well as overcast ones, there will be joy and there will be pain, but one thing will always be constant, Jesus will be their faithful companion. He has promised to never leave them or forsake them. He will love them to the end.

To see these young men and women coming up out of the water, leaving all their past sins and sorrows behind, to begin this new life with Jesus, there is nothing else in this world quite like it. June 28 may have been overcast, but this was a ray of sunshine, a taste of heaven on earth, each of them now a part of the new creation that the bible promises is coming.

Can’t wait until August 1st, four more wanting to be baptized, and by God’s grace, maybe more.