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March - April 2000 The Sabbath Sentinel
Thoughts Upon Baptism
by Bonnie Williams
Standley Lake is in our city but it is removed from the
buildings, houses and noisy roads. We (Erick, my
husband, my Mom, Dad and I) had to walk about 5 minutes
to the lake shore in the freezing cold wind. For some
reason, the wind blew harder and colder the closer we
got to the water ( I felt that Satan must have been
upset!).
As Erick and I walked, we could see whitecaps on the
lake's surface and we could smell the colder weather
tumbling over the mountains next to us. The sun hid
behind clouds and the clouds banded together, determined
to keep us cold. The mud at the lake shore was almost
like freezing quicksand. The more you walked, the more
mud you accumulated on your feet.
Erick went first, since he would have to be wet and cold
the longest. From where my mother and I stood, we could
see the genuine pain on his face when he sat in the
water.
He and my father were out about 30 feet, and with the
backdrop of a cold gray sky, deep blue water and
towering mountains, the effect was sobering and very
real. One could almost imagine Christ being baptized in
the river Jordan by his cousin, John the Baptist.
When it was my turn I realized just how cold this was
going to be. As I began walking down to the water's
edge, I prayed that God would somehow give me the
strength to overcome the freezing water.
By the time I was knee deep, a thought occurred to
me. The whole reason I was standing in freezing water
was because of my sinning. Then I thought, "Wait a
minute, all I have to do is get REALLY cold for a
minute. But Christ had to be beaten, whipped, tortured
and die - for doing NOTHING!" That gave me the strength
to endure the cold.
I felt like I was getting an easy way out. I mean, just
cold water - and Christ died. What an incredible gift!
As I sat down in the water I completely lost my
breath. I began hyper-ventilating and I could barely
catch my breath. But I did it!!!
As cold and windy as it was, when I lost my breath, I
really got the feeling of death. If not for my father
helping me out of the water, I truly would have died.
I have been thinking about yesterday a lot. I am glad
our baptism's went as they did. It is something we will
never forget - that feeling of needing the help of our
Father to pull us from death. There was so much meaning
that day. It was truly unforgettable.
After the laying on of hands, we turned to walk up that
hill back to the warmth of the car. I was completely
numb from my ankles down. I went up the dirt hill
barefoot but it felt like I was walking on stumps.
We still couldn't see signs of civilization. If I closed
my eyes, I could imagine how those death marches felt
for the Jews in the Holocaust.
But as I walked up the hill my thoughts went back to the
freezing water and the painful cold. My troubles seemed
insignificant when I compared the sacrifice Christ made
for me.
So I laughed my hurting feet away! I just thought of how
ridiculous it was to complain about my frozen feet when
someday I might be killed for what I believe. Comparing
the two still makes me laugh.
I wanted to share my experience with my new brothers and
sisters in Christ. All my life I used to ask my Mom and
Dad what would happen if Christ returned before I got
baptized. I worried that I would be left back on the
ground while my parents be changed into spirit beings.
FINALLY, I can look forward to that great day and know
that I will be changed too!
TSS
March - April 2000 The Sabbath Sentinel
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