There is nothing quite so refreshing as a cool dip in dirty water. This statement probably makes little sense to most of us, but it did to a man named Naaman.
"Now Naaman, captain of the army of the king of Aram, was a great man with his master, and highly respected , because by him the LORD had given victory to Aram. The man was also a valiant warrior, but he was a leper." (2 Kings 5:1)
Naaman was a powerful and important man with an embarrassing problem: leprosy. Leprosy was a skin disease for which there was no cure. Those who contracted this dreaded disease were most often relegated to leper colonies, away from contact with other people. The contagious, unclean nature of the disease necessitated that they loudly declare, "unclean!", when others approached.
2 Kings five details how Elisha the prophet came to be involved with Naaman and his leprous condition. With great fanfare, Naaman arrived at the house of Elisha, only to be greeted by his servant and given these simple instructions: "Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh will be restored to you and you will be clean." (2 Kings 5:10).
How could a muddy river possibly cleanse this important man? The whole idea was offensive, but this reluctant military man eventually heeded the advice of his servants, and found ultimate cleansing for his condition.
Naaman's cleansing is a picture of baptism, an equally absurd practice. How is it possible that physical water - regardless of how clean or unclean - could cleanse the soul? Like Naaman's cleansing, we do well to not focus on the mechanics of it, because it will never make sense. This one verse clarifies it best: "baptism now saves you-not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience -through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who is at the right hand of God, having gone into heaven, after angels and authorities and powers had been subjected to Him." (1 Peter 31:21-22)
Far more than a ritual washing, baptism is simply an appeal, based on faith, for Christ's cleansing work to reach into the depths of our being. This simple act is essential if we hope to enter the coming kingdom of God: "Jesus answered, 'Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." (John 3:5).
Have you, like Naaman, taken this simple but important faith step? If not, why not? If so, are you faithfully living according to this commitment?
God's gracious offer is freely given, but not forever offered. So long as we have life, and/or until the day of Christ's return, the offer is available. But, don't let delay become denial. Choose wisely in the moment you have.
Steve
©Steve Taylor, 2011
"Now Naaman, captain of the army of the king of Aram, was a great man with his master, and highly respected , because by him the LORD had given victory to Aram. The man was also a valiant warrior, but he was a leper." (2 Kings 5:1)
Naaman was a powerful and important man with an embarrassing problem: leprosy. Leprosy was a skin disease for which there was no cure. Those who contracted this dreaded disease were most often relegated to leper colonies, away from contact with other people. The contagious, unclean nature of the disease necessitated that they loudly declare, "unclean!", when others approached.
2 Kings five details how Elisha the prophet came to be involved with Naaman and his leprous condition. With great fanfare, Naaman arrived at the house of Elisha, only to be greeted by his servant and given these simple instructions: "Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh will be restored to you and you will be clean." (2 Kings 5:10).
How could a muddy river possibly cleanse this important man? The whole idea was offensive, but this reluctant military man eventually heeded the advice of his servants, and found ultimate cleansing for his condition.
Naaman's cleansing is a picture of baptism, an equally absurd practice. How is it possible that physical water - regardless of how clean or unclean - could cleanse the soul? Like Naaman's cleansing, we do well to not focus on the mechanics of it, because it will never make sense. This one verse clarifies it best: "baptism now saves you-not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience -through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who is at the right hand of God, having gone into heaven, after angels and authorities and powers had been subjected to Him." (1 Peter 31:21-22)
Far more than a ritual washing, baptism is simply an appeal, based on faith, for Christ's cleansing work to reach into the depths of our being. This simple act is essential if we hope to enter the coming kingdom of God: "Jesus answered, 'Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." (John 3:5).
Have you, like Naaman, taken this simple but important faith step? If not, why not? If so, are you faithfully living according to this commitment?
God's gracious offer is freely given, but not forever offered. So long as we have life, and/or until the day of Christ's return, the offer is available. But, don't let delay become denial. Choose wisely in the moment you have.
Steve
©Steve Taylor, 2011
posted by steve @ 9:11 AM
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