Water

If you travel internationally (or to Flint, Michigan), locals and/or friends looking out for your welfare advise against drinking the water.  Grab a bottle of Spring Water, boil out the “bugs,” or just drink Coke (Dr. Pepper for me).

Water.  Don’t drink!

As we prepared to immerse a new believer this coming Sunday, we noticed that the water in the “tub” (although clean) was far less than translucent.  When I looked at the water, I thought of the appropriate imagery.  The Apostle Paul said . . .

'Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name.’  Acts 22:16b (NIV)

and wrote,

And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.  1 Corinthians 6:11 (NIV)

Water.  Wash!

I have yet to baptize Shultz’s Pig-Pen; but every time I baptize a person, he or she comes to the water acknowledging that there was (and continues to be) “dirt” in his or her life. 

In November of 1959, Pig-Pen took a bath.  After toweling and dressing, Pig-Pen went outside and immediately returned to his usual state of filth-filled existence.

Relate?

Why is it that we attract or, more accurately, are attracted to dirt?  I don’t mean our fun making mud pies and off-road 4x4 play.  It’s no wonder why Jesus teaches us to pray, “lead us not into temptation” and “deliver us from evil.” 
  Biting the pleasing-to-the-eye fruit
  Clicking on websites
  Glances turning to stares
  Gossiping the “I can’t believe what so and so did”
  Laughing at the “fall” of one who “had it coming”
  Pride in a perfectly timed “awesome comeback” to another’s comment

We all need a good bath – make that several baths. 

Thankfully, God provides the Living Water and the soap.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.                  1 John 1:9 (NIV)

Water.  Let it flow!

We will flip the switch from “Drain” to “On” and the baptistery will once again be full of water, clean water.  The water will be ready for the next believer who confesses “Jesus is Lord” and cover him or her thus symbolizing a great transition that occurred.

Water.  Dive in!

Source:  Peanuts.wikia.com/wiki/”Pig-Pen”