Back to Jesus
17“Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay the imperial tax to Caesar or not?”
18But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, “You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? 19Show me the coin used for paying the tax” They brought him a denarius, 20and He asked them, “Whose image is this? And whose inscription?”
21“Caesar’s,” they replied.
Then He said to them, “So give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” (Matthew 22:17-21)
Yesterday marked one year since I was baptized as an adult at the end of my deployment to Poland. It popped up in my memories on the “TimeHop” app. It is crazy to think that it has been just a year since that special day. I had written a four-piece focus on the event a year ago, which I just revisited, and you can revisit yourself, if you wish, by clicking here: Washed Clean, Part 1. There are four posts, so if you have the time and are interested, just click to the right of each post.
As I sat here thinking about what the act of Baptism meant to me a year ago, I briefly reflected on how I have been living this last year. Still sinning. Still allowing the world to control me. I did not fully give my life to Christ. I allowed the bitterness of our country to pull me right back into the pit. As soon as I went back to work for Savannah PD, chasing criminals and consistently trying to keep the community safe, I went back to blaming humanity for the evils they commit, missing the peaceful happiness of Poland every single day. I let my financial burdens wear me down by diving right back into working day after day to provide for my family, never truly trusting God to provide until I was too burned out to do it anymore. Then as our national election approached, I went on the attack, to try to prevent what we are currently experiencing, not trusting that this is God’s plan, one way or another. And through all of this, I let every frustration and disappointment interfere with my relationship with Jesus and my family. As I considered that day at the Bobr River, I thought to myself, “what a waste.” Being baptized in Poland was supposed to be the end of my old life, and the beginning of living my new life in Christ, never looking back at where I had been, but keeping my eyes fixed on the King of Kings, the Waymaker, the Savior of the World. Well, I did not look back. I took two steps back, turned around, and ran right back into my old self.
So, what now? What am I to do with my old self now? Do I need to seek to be baptized again? Well, that would be silly. If we, as Christians, needed Baptism to keep washing our sins away, we would have to be baptized weekly, if not just make it part of our daily bedtime routine. Unfortunately for many of us, we get baptized and instantly keep one foot on the path to salvation, and one foot on the path to damnation. The world and the devil have a death grip on our souls because they know how easy it is to lose the battle. I say it is easy only because Jesus is always there, always ready for us to surrender to Him. It is that easy. The battle lies within our own struggle, and that part is the hard part. But to win, all you need is to repent, cast that life of sin to the side, and walk firmly in the path Jesus has paved for us all. This is what I am focusing on today, and recommitting my life to Christ and being His humble servant.
I shared the verses above because I am giving back to Caesar what is Caesar’s. My life, my time, and my work are far more important to me than constantly allowing the world and the government to control my outlook on life. God is in control. In the last year, I went back down, dipped my toes in the pools of hell, but the amazing thing about my God and my Lord, all I had to do is look back up, and let Jesus lift me up. I went back down, but I came up new. And no matter how times I stumble back, Jesus will always be there to guide me back to Him. Click the image below to hear an amazing Baptism anthem and watch the joy of dozens being baptized into their new life with Christ.
Common Sense Reborn 