The summer night had cooled considerably. The car windows were down, and the air felt good on our skin after the hot day. We were on our way home from a baptism service following a long day of serving at VBS. As is consistent with my teenager, an evening car ride tends to open up opportunity for deep conversations. I knew she had something on her mind, and I waited patiently to hear the question that finally came.

“Mom, I’m worried my baptism didn’t take. I mean, I understand more now, and maybe I didn’t do it right the first time. What do you think?”

I love this kid. Having walked with her through her confession and baptism, I knew she understood when she called on Jesus to be her Savior. But this is a great question and one I feel many people ask themselves at some point in their faith walk. I was proud of her for thinking through it.

God is our reconciliation.

Sometimes we have to remember how that reconciliation was procured. It came through Christ’s blood. This peace that has been offered us is through the blood of His cross and in the body of His flesh through death. His blood made the atonement, for blood is life. Without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sin (Hebrews 9:22).

There is such value in the blood of Christ that because Christ willingly shed it, God is willing to deal with men on new terms. These new terms bring us under the law of grace, and for His sake and in honor of His death upon the cross, God pardons us, accepts us and grants favor for all who follow Him.

As we arrived home that evening she turned to me and said, “So, because of whose blood it is, my baptism is secure and always will be.”

Yes, my sweet girl. Secure for all eternity.

Questions to Ask Yourself

Read the next verse in your Bible (Colossians 1:23). What are some safeguards and boundaries we can set for ourselves so that we:

1. Continue on in the faith?
2. Establish a firm foundation for our family?
3. Do not waiver from the hope held out in the gospel?