“The Water That Purifies…!”

“The Water That Purifies…!”(I Pt.3:15b-22).
The other day we stressed the importance of water in our lives. Today our lectionary provides for us three texts all of which mentions water. The first text(Gen. 8:1-12) narrates how God remembered Noah and caused him and the other remnants to be saved from the flood. Here we see that water had a dual impact. Water destroyed the wicked, but saved those whom the Lord found worthy.
In the second text (Lk.8:22-25) Jesus was sleeping in the boat when a squall came down on the lake and the boat was being swamped. They were in great danger. The disciples thought they were going to drown. When Jesus was awoken he rebuked the storm and the raging waters and the storm subsided.
This was so because the Lord on high is mighty. Mightier than the breakers of the sea (Ps.93).
Eight people in Noah’s time were saved as water lifted them higher and higher to a higher ground, higher than the highest heights. And when the water subsided they were saved.
The saving of Noah and the others through water “symbolizes baptism that now saves you also – not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God. This water baptism saves us by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who…is at God’s right hand – with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.”
It is not as if we were better than those who perished in the time of Noah. The difference is that they persisted in the hardness of heart until the flood engulfed them. We too were sinful until Christ died for the sins of all, the righteous for the unrighteous, so as to bring us to God.
While we are still in this pilgrim land we should learn to be submissive to Christ because even angels, authorities and powers are in submission to him.
More so we should be confident that we are more than conquerors and need not fear angels, authorities and powers because under Christ they hold no sway over us.
We are overcomers who should exhibit gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience as we stand in defense of the faith that we profess and which saves us. We may face persecution in the process of defending the faith, let us not take offense and let no offense be intended as we defend the faith.
One thing to be confident about is that Jesus Christ is in our boat, we should smile at any raging storm.
Sunday prayer: Thank you heavenly Father; in baptism you have saved me through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Amen!
Have a blessed Sunday! Peace be with you!
Rev. Babila Fochang.