Dear Tabernacle Family
Last week our nation experienced a transition of power unlike any I’ve seen. It was only after much debate and contention that the Nation chose its President on Election Day. That decision was followed by an equally tumultuous transition period that culminated in an inauguration surrounded by controversy and protests. After the millions of words spoken and written, the whole thing was resolved with just 35 words as the new President took the oath of office.
Regardless of how you voted or what you think of the new President, there is no going back to the previous administration, and the new administration has already made some dramatic changes, with promises of much more to come. Of course, our Constitution puts limits on what any administration can do, and we will start the whole process over again in just a little while.
Likewise, we experience a transition of power when we hear the Gospel message and decide to commit our lives to Christ. This transition though is not for just four years, but forever as the administration of the flesh ends and the administration of the Spirit begins. What is missing in this transition for some Christians is that point in time when the decision is formalized and proclaimed to the audiences of heaven and earth. That proclamation is not in the form of an oath prescribed by our Constitution, but it is in water baptism as repeatedly modeled in the Bible. What I find interesting is that in the Bible there is never a gap between the decision to accept Christ and water baptism. For example, on the first day of the Church 3,000 people accepted the Gospel message and were baptized. If you’re one of those folks who have accepted Christ but have not been water baptized, what is holding you back? Stop at the Welcome Center today and pick up the information on Water Baptism, and then meet me in the Atrium Classroom (Matthew Room) this evening at 6:00 with a change of clothes and a towel and I will be honored to baptize you during the 7:00 pm service.
Pastor Leadlay Ogden