Real Hope: Back to Basics - the Great CommissionSample

Heart Transformation

‘Quick, back to your desks. Mr. R is coming!’ shouted a classmate. Within seconds the previously unruly classroom resembled one of order and discipline. Even the chalkboard seemed to clean itself and stand upright. Mr. R had instilled the fear of life and death in every student at my all-boys high school in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Stories had been told about the unfortunate few who had crossed his path. Mr. R had a reputation and had made a name for himself.

Just prior to Jesus ascending to Heaven, He instructed His disciples to go into all nations, baptising them in the name (in the reputation) of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. He was asking His followers to go into the world and facilitate a heart transformation in others that they in turn would want to leave their old life behind and begin a new one that honoured God.

This shedding of the old self and putting on the new can only be achieved through the symbolic act of baptism. A complete immersion of body, soul and mind; death to the old and resurrection of the new – done in the name that has authority over all things in Heaven and on Earth. As Jesus’ disciples, you and I are called to reach into the hearts and lives of the broken humanity around us to encourage them, teach them, and show them a higher way that points to Jesus. I find the most challenging part of this calling, this Great Commission, is the constant dying to the old in order to embrace the new. It’s far simpler to teach baptism than it is to live it out each day. Unlike Mr. R who demanded behaviour modification through fear, the Jesus in you and I should compel heart transformation through love. Also, see Ephesians 4:22–24.

Written by DRUVI PERERA