At 61, Sam Houston became a believer and submitted to baptism in Rickey Creek. Cynical friends asked the dripping-wet Texas hero if he felt his sins had now been washed away. “Yes,” said Houston, “and God help the fish down below!”
Sins washed away. It’s interesting how we humans make a fundamental link between guilt and washing.
Psychological studies bear this out. Northwestern University’s Katie Liljenquist and her colleagues asked a group of 60 college students to concentrate on either something ethical or unethical that they had done in the past. Then the students were asked to complete the letters in two words: “W_SH” and “SO_P.” Students who reflected on an unethical memory were more likely to say that the unfinished words were “WASH” instead of “WISH,” and “SOAP” instead of “SOUP.”
In another experiment, after students were asked to remember some ethical or unethical action from their past, each student was given a choice of two parting gifts: a pencil, or an antiseptic wipe. Sixty-six percent of the students who said they had recalled an unethical memory took the antiseptic wipe. It was as if they wanted to wipe themselves clean of the recollection.
“Wash away all my iniquity,” King David called out to God in confession of his adultery, “and cleanse me from my sin.” (Psalm 51:2) It’s good to know God responds to that kind of heart cry.
In the New Testament, baptism symbolizes the cleansing power of Christ’s sacrifice. After Ananias explained the gospel to Paul, he said, “And now, what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized, and wash your sins away, calling on his name.” (Acts 22:16)
That’s a good question for us all: What are you waiting for?
We’ll gather for outdoor baptisms on Sunday, July 16, at 1:30pm at Twin Lakes YMCA. Let me know if you’re ready to take this step of Christian obedience.
--Tom
Sign up here to receive Tom Goodman’s weekly devotional in your email inbox. Tom serves as pastor at Hillcrest Church in Austin, Texas. His sermons are available on YouTube and the HillcrestToGo Podcast and you can find him on Facebook and Twitter.