I saw the following story engraved on a plaque on a wall at a Christian University I toured last week. It reminded me that treating believer’s baptism as an optional step for a new Christian is a grave mistake. This is the summary of the story.

Visitors have come to the Arizona desert in the wintertime for decades seeking relief from the freezing temperatures of the Northeast and Midwest. Throughout the years, Cave Creek Arizona has been one of the destinations of the rich and famous. First Baptist Church of Cave Creek (no longer meeting as a congregation) had a unique opportunity to minister to some of these people. It was a small congregation with baptist convictions and conservative values.

One Sunday a media personality along with his bride made his way up the dusty road to worship services at this little church. He was a big deal in those days--known nationwide and at the height of his career. On this occasion, he was on vacation, he was tired, and feeling quite empty inside. Success in his chosen profession had proven ineffective in satisfying the drought in his soul.

According to his later testimony, there were only a dozen or so worshipers in attendance that day. For the Sunday sermon, the country preacher chose to expound on the importance of believer’s baptism. Many years before the man trusted Christ as Savior while alone in his bedroom. But now, the conviction mounted that he had never obediently followed the Lord in baptism. He walked the aisle that day, surrendering to this important step of obedience for a believer. …

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