Spiritual “Destinesia” by Bill Denton

Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death?  Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. (Romans 6:3-4)

“Be watchful and diligent in God’s service and often think of why you left the world . . .  Was it not that you might live for God and become a spiritual man?”  —  THOMAS À KEMPIS

    Have you ever gotten up from your chair and walked to the other end of the house, only to arrive and find that you had completely forgotten what you were going to do, or what object you went to get?  I once knew a man who called it the affliction of “Destinesia,” sort of a combination of amnesia and destination!

Have you forgotten?

    How unfortunate that people who have expressed their belief in Jesus Christ, repented of their sins, submitted to baptism, and made a commitment to live for God, but suddenly find that they “forget” what they are supposed to be doing. 

    At least that’s the way it appears:

• People put away sinful behaviors only to pick up those behaviors and begin practicing them again. 
• People stop using ugly or abusive language then begin spewing venom again. 
• People put away negative, spiteful, hateful attitudes, then forget all about putting them away, and . . . Well, you get the idea, don’t you?

    I like Thomas a Kempis’ encouragement:  “. . . Think of why you left the world . . . .”  Paul’s emphasis to the church at Rome was along a similar line.  Don’t you remember what occurred when you were baptized? In baptism you identified with the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus.  In baptism you were buried into his death, your sin was removed, and you rose to a new life.  Have you forgotten?

    If this has happened to us, then it’s time to “jar our memory.”  It’s time for the light bulb to come on.  We need a wake-up call.  Let’s remember what we committed ourselves to be and to do.  If we don’t, then what’s the purpose of committing to Christ to start with?  Our intention was to become a spiritual man or woman and live for God.  Right? Right! So let’s do it!

HEARTLIGHT(R) Magazine is a ministry of loving Christians and the Westover Hills church of Christ.
Edited by Phil Ware and Paul Lee.
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Article copyright (c) 1998, Bill Denton. Used by permission. CrossTies is a weekly devotional article sent to subscribers.  Email BillDenton@mtgroup.com for information.
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