This blog is not what you think. It isn’t about actually dying. What sparked the idea was a recent article I read about a tradition at a particular Buddhist temple in Thailand that allows visitors the opportunity to lie in a coffin for a couple of minutes while monks chant a funeral dirge. When the visitors climb out, they believe they have been cleansed of their pasts.
Those who spend the 180 baht to go through the ritual (about $5 US) believe the bad karma has been sucked from their lives. Many of the followers use the term “reborn” to describe how they feel. As Spock would say, “Fascinating.” I don’t think I could do it – lie in an actual coffin – not even for a few minutes – not even with a 11 other visitors doing it at the same time.
I understand the desire to remove the bad feelings (not to mention potential repercussions) created by our past actions, but spiritual rebirth has already occurred for you if you are a believer who has been baptized – and it didn’t cost YOU a thing. It certainly cost Jesus plenty. Once you’ve done it, you don’t need to go through it again, unlike the temple visitors who go through the service multiple times.
Colossians 2:12 says that we are “buried with Him (Jesus) at baptism.” Continuing in verses 13-14 we find – “And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath He quickened together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to His cross.”
We were already dead because of sin, became buried at baptism and then resurrected to a new life. Of course, our new life looks a lot like the old one when we first come up out of that watery grave. But it isn’t the same. We have a new life and we have the opportunity and the responsibility to walk in “newness of life.”
Upon receipt of the Holy Spirit, we also have the will and the means to live a new life – our past sins no longer held against us. And it cost you nothing – God’s free gift to you.
Jesus gave His life so that we can have a new life in Him. With all past sins and the penalty of death wiped away a baptism, with the Holy Spirit to guide, with Jesus as our example and our advocate with the Father, the life ahead will be different from the one behind.
The past cannot hold onto us. It is gone. Sure, sometimes a penalty for our past sins will continue with us – like the fact that, even though God forgave King David of his adultery with Bathsheba and the murder of her husband, He still allowed their first son to die.
But as far as God is concerned, the sin is gone and so is the death penalty your sin has earned for you. Now eternity within God’s Kingdom is our future. Hallelujah! If that isn’t reason to feel fresh, new and unburdened, I don’t know what is.
Whenever we are tainted by a sin from baptism forward, we can repent, pray for forgiveness and immediately have that sin forgiven and removed from us. No coffin required. You are free to spend your $5 on a Latte at Starbucks or, better yet, use it to reach others who don’t know this good news.
With love,
Nancy
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