Like father, like son

and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him. 1 Peter 3:21-22 ‭(NIV)

Father’s Day 2017 was an epic one for me and my son. On that day, we were baptized in a public profession of faith.

I was saved four years earlier, but had never gotten baptized since. I was waiting, but wasn’t sure why or when that right time would be…till my son was clamoring to be baptized, and was already developing a fiery faith in Jesus. I was reminded about how lightning waits for God’s command to strike; only He knows when the time is right. It was time.

The water that Peter speaks of in the verse above is the water that saved the eight people in Noah’s ark. Under the water was a horrifying global grave of sinners and their sin…but above it was life and God’s light shining on his obedient children–even through the rain.

Peter goes on to say that this water symbolizes baptism that now saves us also, by the resurrection of Jesus Christ. John, the forerunner, baptized with water, but the One who would come after him (Jesus) would baptize with the Holy Spirit (Matthew 3:11). It was Jesus’ finished work that saved us, and our water baptism professed to the world our belief in Him and His finished work. It also symbolized the death to self and sin we left beneath the water.

Jesus woke me up and pulled the wool off my eyes just in time (again, His timing is perfect!) to train up my son in the way he should go, bumps and all. Moments after I was baptized, my son was baptized…and I thank God for the amazing privilege and responsibility of leading him as our Heavenly Father leads us, His children. Like earthly father, like earthly son…with our eyes trained on Heavenly Father.