Saul had been a deadly criminal. Many of us would want Saul to wait and prove himself. Saul was ashamed; he well knew how unworthy he was. He saw the hard road of reform ahead. Yet, God’s messenger urgently asked,
“And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name“ (Acts 22:16).
The command of Acts 22, “Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on His name” is for now, not later. Baptism is for sinners, not saints. Washing is for dirty people, not clean people. Indeed, why wait? Why wallow in filth one moment longer? Why delay the washing so desperately needed, so freely given, and so costly to the crucified Christ? Why repay such amazing love with reluctance? Why remain condemned outside Christ? Why put off obedience to your acknowledged “Lord”? Saul got the message. “He rose and was baptized”(Acts 9:18). He had the attitude of Psalm 119:60,
“I hasten and do not delay to keep Your commandments.“
The very nature of faith and repentance is to cooperate with God. That is why, in the New Testament, baptism immediately follows believing the Good News (Acts 2:42; 16:33).
Do you share that eagerness to obey the Gospel, to let it become your own Good News? Let Jesus’ story become your story. In union with Him, you die to the bad news of the past. By the power of His rising, you enter a new life filled with Good News. His story merged with yours, so that you too can say,
I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me (Galatians 2:20).
Your personal identity is not lost, but rather found. As Jesus promised,
“Whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it“ (Matthew 16:25).
God never meant us to be lost, lonely and empty without Him. He made us for Himself. He too is urgent: calling us, seeking us, wanting to complete us… now!
Seek the LORD while He may be found; call upon Him while he is near (Isaiah 55:6).
“In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you. Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation (2 Corinthians 6:2-3).