Promises and Reality
Illustration
Stories
Ted looked out over the field behind his grandparent’s house and sighed. He tried to ignore the noise from the family gathering inside and concentrate on the trees next to the house. What was wrong with him? He had been so excited to be baptized, so enthusiastic about becoming a Christian and part of the church, and now that it was over all of that excitement seemed to evaporate. Had he made a mistake?
“What are you doing out here?” Sam asked from behind him.
Ted shrugged as his older brother joined him at the railing on the deck. “I just needed some air.”
“I get that.” Sam put his hand on Ted’s shoulder. “Just know you’ve made our grandparents happier than you can imagine.”
“I know,” Ted said. “However, I didn’t choose to get baptized because of them.”
“Well, it certainly wasn’t because of Mom who I worried would burst into flames when she went into the church.” Sam started at his brother for a moment and then both of them broke into grins.
“Everyone knows what Mom thinks of church,” Ted said. “Heaven knows she’s never shy about giving her opinion.”
“That’s for certain. I’ve never really been interested in church, but I have to say seeing you making those promises and going under the water was something special.”
“Really?” Ted tilted his head to one side. “You’re not pulling my leg?”
“No, not at all. You looked really peaceful when the pastor baptized you.” Sam said. “Actually, you looked like you were exactly where you were supposed to be. I’m proud of you.”
“Proud of me?” Ted frowned. “I thought you were like Mom and thought church was just a place for hypocrites and the easily influenced.”
Sam shrugged. “I might have thought that before, but seeing you and the others this morning and having the whole church pray for you, well, that was special. I bet you felt the love that was all around you.”
“I did.” Ted nodded. “I actually did.”
Sam looked at his brother expectantly. “But?”
“Huh?”
“Oh, come on Ted, I know you better than anyone else. What you say stays between us. What happened? You were all excited and talkative before and now you are all quiet and pensive.”
“I don’t know. I thought all I wanted was to be baptized but now I’m not so sure.”
“Ah,” Sam said. “Now comes the tough part, eh?”
“What do you mean?”
“Remember when you signed up for little league and got your uniform? You wore it all the time and were so excited. Yet you weren’t that excited when it came time to practice, were you?” Sam tapped his chin. “Then there was the time you were elected class president and were over the moon until you realized all the meetings you had to do...and then...”
“I get the point.” Ted sighed. “Yeah, I was excited about the thought of being part of the church and following Jesus before the actual baptism so maybe it is like those other times.”
Sam was quiet for a moment. “Or maybe it isn’t.”
“What?” Ted frowned. “I just agreed with you.”
“Did you forget that you grew to love baseball a long time after you signed up and got the uniform and only after lots of practices? Or that you were a great class president when you discovered that those meetings made things happen?” Sam tiled his head. “This is different. You’re already committed to Jesus, love being part of the church, and were involved in the prayer group and Bible study before you asked to be baptized. You made your choice to be baptized not because you think it’s great but because you know God is great and want to answer Jesus with your life.”
Ted narrowed his eyes. “You were listening to the pastor’s sermon.”
“Okay, the last line was what the pastor said but it is still true.” Sam smiled. “Seriously Ted, I’ve never seen you so focused, certain, and happy before. Don’t question that just because you were expecting a dove to descend and a voice to boom from heaven when you came up out of the water.”
“I don’t believe it.” Ted shook his head. “You listened to the gospel reading too?”
“Sure did. Who knows? I may even take in some services in the weeks to come,” Sam turned before Ted could say anything. “I’m freezing and going back inside. Don’t doubt yourself and don’t stay our here too long, ok?”
Ted nodded and watched his brother head back inside. He thought for a moment about the words his brother had said and offered a quick prayer of thanks for the day, his church, his family, and for the life he was committed to leading as a follower of Jesus Christ.
“What are you doing out here?” Sam asked from behind him.
Ted shrugged as his older brother joined him at the railing on the deck. “I just needed some air.”
“I get that.” Sam put his hand on Ted’s shoulder. “Just know you’ve made our grandparents happier than you can imagine.”
“I know,” Ted said. “However, I didn’t choose to get baptized because of them.”
“Well, it certainly wasn’t because of Mom who I worried would burst into flames when she went into the church.” Sam started at his brother for a moment and then both of them broke into grins.
“Everyone knows what Mom thinks of church,” Ted said. “Heaven knows she’s never shy about giving her opinion.”
“That’s for certain. I’ve never really been interested in church, but I have to say seeing you making those promises and going under the water was something special.”
“Really?” Ted tilted his head to one side. “You’re not pulling my leg?”
“No, not at all. You looked really peaceful when the pastor baptized you.” Sam said. “Actually, you looked like you were exactly where you were supposed to be. I’m proud of you.”
“Proud of me?” Ted frowned. “I thought you were like Mom and thought church was just a place for hypocrites and the easily influenced.”
Sam shrugged. “I might have thought that before, but seeing you and the others this morning and having the whole church pray for you, well, that was special. I bet you felt the love that was all around you.”
“I did.” Ted nodded. “I actually did.”
Sam looked at his brother expectantly. “But?”
“Huh?”
“Oh, come on Ted, I know you better than anyone else. What you say stays between us. What happened? You were all excited and talkative before and now you are all quiet and pensive.”
“I don’t know. I thought all I wanted was to be baptized but now I’m not so sure.”
“Ah,” Sam said. “Now comes the tough part, eh?”
“What do you mean?”
“Remember when you signed up for little league and got your uniform? You wore it all the time and were so excited. Yet you weren’t that excited when it came time to practice, were you?” Sam tapped his chin. “Then there was the time you were elected class president and were over the moon until you realized all the meetings you had to do...and then...”
“I get the point.” Ted sighed. “Yeah, I was excited about the thought of being part of the church and following Jesus before the actual baptism so maybe it is like those other times.”
Sam was quiet for a moment. “Or maybe it isn’t.”
“What?” Ted frowned. “I just agreed with you.”
“Did you forget that you grew to love baseball a long time after you signed up and got the uniform and only after lots of practices? Or that you were a great class president when you discovered that those meetings made things happen?” Sam tiled his head. “This is different. You’re already committed to Jesus, love being part of the church, and were involved in the prayer group and Bible study before you asked to be baptized. You made your choice to be baptized not because you think it’s great but because you know God is great and want to answer Jesus with your life.”
Ted narrowed his eyes. “You were listening to the pastor’s sermon.”
“Okay, the last line was what the pastor said but it is still true.” Sam smiled. “Seriously Ted, I’ve never seen you so focused, certain, and happy before. Don’t question that just because you were expecting a dove to descend and a voice to boom from heaven when you came up out of the water.”
“I don’t believe it.” Ted shook his head. “You listened to the gospel reading too?”
“Sure did. Who knows? I may even take in some services in the weeks to come,” Sam turned before Ted could say anything. “I’m freezing and going back inside. Don’t doubt yourself and don’t stay our here too long, ok?”
Ted nodded and watched his brother head back inside. He thought for a moment about the words his brother had said and offered a quick prayer of thanks for the day, his church, his family, and for the life he was committed to leading as a follower of Jesus Christ.
