Our lives are filled with endings.
As mothers, the endings in our children’s lives make us melancholy: weaning is an end to a unique bond, potty training is an end to “baby hood,” the onset of puberty marks the end of the innocence of childhood and high school graduation nominally ends their dependence on us. Most mothers speak of an empty nest when their children leave home.
Graduation is an ending, but it is also the beginning of a new stage in life. Retirement is likewise an ending which is also beginning of refreshment! Death marks an end to this temporary life but it is the beginning of eternal life and rest.
Have you ever thought of baptism as an ending? We know it is the beginning of a new life, that it is a new birth, in which one becomes a new creation: “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come” (2 Corinthians 5:17). But baptism is also an end!
Baptism marks….
An end to being enslaved to sin
Romans 6:4-6 likens baptism to a death. Paul uses phrases like “buried with Him,” “in the likeness of His death,” and “our old man was crucified with Him.” He says that our “body of sin” ends here, and we are no longer slaves. We end life as slaves (to sin) and begin life as willing servants, choosing to serve Jesus Christ. We are resurrected just like Christ was, beginning a new life with Him.
An end to being estranged/separated from God (Isaiah 59:1-2)
During this past pandemic years, we all learned how it feels to be separated from the people we love, including being separated from the family of God at times. That separation made us lonely, but it was temporary. Separation from God will be permanent if we don’t obey His commands. Being separated from Him in this world is bad enough, not having the assurance that He is with us to care for us and watch over us. What a comfort to be in a right relationship with Him! When some issue separates us from family in this life, the relationship is uncomfortable until we are reconciled. The same goes for our relationship with the Heavenly Father. If we live in sin, separated from Him, it is uncomfortable. Baptism ends this separation.
An end to being on the outside of the church, “looking in”
Baptism ends a spiritually “single” lifestyle and begins inclusion into the family of God, a place where we can be encouraged and encourage others. We are no longer on the outside looking in, but are now a part of the family. The writer of Hebrews states that this family “stirs up” one another to do good, and wants to be together and lift one another up. (Heb. 10:24-25)
An end to the uncertainty of where we will be in eternity
Baptism ends uncertainty. God promises a place of rest for those who live faithfully here. We can be certain, with no doubts. In Revelation 2:10 Jesus says the He WILL give us a crown of life if we are faithful. He promises a prepared place for us (John 14:1-3) and will give eternal life to “whosoever believes in Him” (John 3:16). There is no uncertainty in John’s words from 1 John 2:5…”But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him.“
An end to living for self
Life before baptism was self-centered and hollow. Baptism ends this selfish outlook; it moves us to a better place of serving a loving master. Paul says that “it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me” (Galatians 2:20). My life is not about me anymore, it is about Christ and His glory. Jesus asks us to deny ourselves and follow Him, thus saving our life (Mark 8:34-35). Self-denial is one of the hardest things to accomplish as a Christian, but it is worth the effort. It takes work and discipline but pays great “wages” here and in the life to come.
An end to struggle, worry and doubt
They may not admit it, but people living without Christ in the world have doubts about their souls and spiritual “health.” It is a very uncomfortable feeling to not know where you are going, to live without a direction. In Christ, we have a solid foundation (1 Cor. 3:10) to stand on: We don’t have to guess which way to go, we have a direction given. This ends the struggle and worry. We find rest and peace in Jesus (Matt. 11:29-30).
Baptism is the beginning of a new life with all its wonderful promises and blessings. But, baptism is also an end to slavery, estrangement, exclusion, uncertainty, self-denial and worry. In one sense, you could say it is a “happy ending,” because the end leads to a beginning!