A glimpse of glory

Our oldest child, our firstborn son, was baptized on Sunday.  This was something he asked for, something on which we questioned him at length and for which he was interviewed by two church officers.  He demonstrated understanding of the sacrament and gave a clear and credible profession of faith.  He also took membership vows, thereby becoming a member of our church and becoming eligible to participate in the Lord's Supper.


I usually weep when I witness other believer's baptisms, especially when they're children.  I always thought if my kid gets baptized, I'll be bawling.


We invited family and friends for the event, taking up two rows of seats.  We took all of our kids up front and stood by Jeddy as he professed faith in Jesus, took vows, and received baptism.


I barely teared up.


I think there are several reasons for this, one major one being that I was holding Caleb, who decided to be extremely squirmy and try to escape the whole time.  Another is that it had been a bit exhausting just dealing with the logistics of coordinating and scheduling the interview, deciding on a date for the event, and directing all our visitors to the right place.  Thirdly, it's completely unnerving to be in front of about eight zillion faces--on a platform, no less.


I handed my phone to a friend just before we went up, and he took bunches of photos... you'll notice I'm not posting them here.  They're just too awkward.  I'm wrestling Caleb, most of our kids are scowling, it's this weird upward angle because of the platform, you can't tell that there's any water involved, and our church's utilitarian ugliness really shines forth in photos.


I think there's another reason I feel unexcited about the baptism pictures.  It's that the significance of the event was taking place in the unseen realm.  Within the dark mystery of my son's heart God was moving, and in the brilliance of the heavenly kingdom, God was rejoicing.  Those are treasures worth seeing, but they don't show up in a photo.


"My frame was not hidden from You,
When I was made in secret,
And skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth;
Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; 
And in Your book were all written 
The days that were ordained for me,
When as yet there was not one of them."     -Psalm 139:15-16


Just as God saw us in the darkness of our mother's womb, so He sees our innermost heart, and there He works, planting faith and forming new life.  The day of Jeddy's public profession of faith in Christ was ordained and written in God's book long ago.  Our dearest wish and prayer since Jeddy was in the womb seems to have come true.  May all our children stand up for Jesus.


"Wonderful are Your works,
And my soul knows it very well."     -Psalm 139:14


Also, what's rejoicing without cake?

And that makes an attractive picture.