I WONDER: HOW DO I START?
“The thing that counts is not what we could do but what we actually do.” This question assumes that you have made a decision to begin the journey that will place you in a proper relationship with God. It recognizes God as the proper authority and it shows your submission to that authority.
1. I Must Make a Choice.
As is true with any journey, there are many possible choices. In a physical journey one might choose to go in any direction - North, South, East, or West. So, too, in the spiritual journey, there are many options. However, there is one important difference. We can enjoy going anywhere on a physical journey. But, in the spiritual journey, we must choose the one and only way (John 14:6).
We must make the choice of Jesus the Son of God. He is God’s only Son sent to save mankind (John 3:16). He is the one who came to do God’s will and finish His word (John 4:34). He is the crucified and resurrected Lord (I Cor. 15:3-4). All of these things we must accept when we choose Jesus for He, Himself, said, “Therefore I said to you, that you will die in your sins: for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.” (John 8:24)
2. I Must Make a Change.
Having made the proper choice of believing in Jesus, I now must make a change. When we believe Jesus to be the Lord who rules, we will desire to be in submission to Him. I must change the one who rules in my life and serve this new Master.
This submission to baptism is the same thing that Saul did in Acts 22. Ananias gave him the reason for doing it - “wash away your sins.” (verse 16). This instruction from Ananias was what Jesus told Saul to look for in Damascus. In verse 10 we find, “. . . there you will be told all things which are appointed for you to do.” Later Paul wrote in I Corinthians 11:1, “Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.” Paul instructed the Corinthians to follow him as he followed Christ. Ananias, instructed Paul to be baptized. Paul taught the necessity of baptism for the remission of sins.
3. I Must Make a Commitment.
Having made the proper choice in Jesus, the proper changes in repentance (change of lifestyle) and confession (change of allegiance), I am now ready to make a lifelong commitment. It is a commitment that, once made, will cleanse every sin and make me pure before God and a fellow journeyman with others who have done the same.
I must commit to be obedient to God and His word. This commitment grows out of our love for the Lord (John 14:15). My desire to be obedient to the words of Jesus and other inspired men from God who wrote the Bible will lead me to be baptized for the remission of all past sins (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38). Baptism also puts me into Christ where I can begin my spiritual journey (Galatians 3:27).
This submission to baptism is the same thing that Saul did in Acts 22. Ananias gave him the reason for doing it - “wash away your sins.” (verse 16). This instruction from Ananias was what Jesus told Saul to look for in Damascus. In verse 10 we find, “. . . there you will be told all things which are appointed for you to do.” Later Paul wrote in I Corinthians 11:1, “Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.” Paul instructed the Corinthians to follow him as he followed Christ. Ananias, instructed Paul to be baptized. Paul taught the necessity of baptism for the remission of sins.
4. I Must Take a Challenge.
Having begun the spiritual journey by being baptized to be in Christ (a Christian), having my sins washed away, I now must take the challenge of the Christian life. In Matthew 11:28-30 Jesus says,
“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart; and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.”
Here, He wants me to place His easy yoke on my neck and His light burden on my back, and live the proper life. The burden is light and the yoke is easy if we align ourselves with God and allow Jesus to help us. Aren’t you ready to make that decision to become a Christian today?
— Mike Johnson
