You make known to me the path of life

Mark 16:14,17:  “Later, Yeshua appeared to the Eleven as they were eating, and he reproached them for their lack of trust and their spiritual insensitivity in not having believed those who had seen him after he had risen. Then he said to them, ‘As you go throughout the world, proclaim the Good News to all creation.   Whoever trusts and is immersed will be saved; whoever does not trust will be condemned.  And these signs will accompany those who do trust: in my name they will drive out demons, speak with new tongues, and not be injured if they handle snakes or drink poison, and heal the sick by laying hands on them.”

In Acts 2:38, Peter says to the people, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

I always find it a little confusing which baptism they are talking about.  In Acts 19:3-4 it says, “Into what, then, were you baptized?” Paul asked. ‘The baptism of John,’ they replied. Paul explained: ‘John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the One coming after him, that is, in Jesus.’ On hearing this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus.…”

Luke 3:16 John explained, "I baptize you with water, but One more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.

It was confusing for folks at the time as well.  In Acts 10:47 as the Holy Spirit fell on the gentiles as they listened to his message, they asked, "Can anyone withhold the water to baptize these people? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have!"

For myself, I have had three separate baptisms.   The first in His name as I received Christ in my life.  I was immersed in the covenant of the name of Christ as I accepted Him as my Lord and Savior.  It rocked my world and change the way I saw things.  It even changed my vision so colors and the world around me brightened and came to life in ways I couldn’t see before.  Then, later, I received baptism in water for repentance of my sins.  God had been speaking to me about this and I felt a sense of commitment in following Him through this baptism.  Lastly, I received a baptism of fire where this red hot liquid came and covered my heart as I prayed and I began to manifest some of the gifts of the Spirit.  

In Mark 16:17, Jesus spoke to the disciples to spread the gospel, proclaiming it so that people could believe and receive Him.   Even after seeing Lazareth raise from the dead, the disciples doubted.  Their hearts had such a hard time seeing outside of the natural world to what God was doing and the significance of Him being raised from the dead.   It seemed that once again, the world had won by crucifying Jesus.  Peter was so unbelieving that he denied knowing Jesus and had sworn up a storm.

While Jesus rebuked them for their unbelief, it didn’t cause Him to doubt this group of Eleven could change the world.  He commissioned them in the midst of their doubt and proclaimed over them an incredible mission to bring His Kingdom wherever they went.  Not only bringing people to salvation, but a promise that those who trusted will enter into the Kingdom purposes – healing and delivering others.

I frequently see this at the place I work.  People will come in and do not know the Lord or have been estranged in their relationship.  They receive Christ and begin to set their hearts in the right direction.  Then after some time and they grow in greater freedom, they desire to help others.  They join staff and become the hands that help others get freedom.  It is beautiful.  

This is a beautiful aspect of the Kingdom.   Those who receive it, grow in it and are transformed by it.  As they believe and trust, they begin to have impact on others around them.  Others are delivered from darkness to light.  Others are healed.  Everything the Kingdom touches flows with life.  While there are some stagnant areas in the body of Christ where life does not flow because people get stuck or fall into apathy, the body of Christ is His hands and feet that bring healing to the nations. 

Those who follow Christ have impact on the world to be fruitful and multiply.  They bring His life wherever they go.  No matter if they choose to receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit or not and operate in His gifts, unless they are quenching Him in their lives through intentional sin, they will have impact on the world around them as they are yoked with the Living God.  They shine with the glory of the Lord.   

This is opposite of the one who follows the world’s ways.   Those who seek after their own kingdom and their own gain, the Word says will struggle.   Proverbs tell us over and over, the difference between living for the kingdom and living for the world.

Proverbs 10:11 says that “the words of the godly are a life-giving fountain; the words of the wicked conceal violent intentions.” 10:20, “The words of the godly are like sterling silver [adding value to others]; the heart of the fool [ungodly] is worthless.”  It says in Provers 10:30-32, “The godly will never be disturbed, but the wicked will be removed from the land.  The mouth of the godly person gives wise advice, but the tongue that deceives will be cut off.  The lips of the godly speak helpful words, but the mouth of the wicked speaks perverse words.”

There is a place of blessing for those who obey the Lord and walk in His ways.  Proverbs 10:6 says that “the godly are showered with blessings; the words of the wicked conceal violent intentions.”  It also goes on to say that the godly leave a legacy to generations after them while the name of those following the world leaves unknown. (10:7)

The Lord makes a clear dividing line between those who follow the world and those who follow after God.  The Lord does not wink at sin but will reproof us in it so that we learn and follow a way of integrity that leads to life and walk in His abundance.  Those who are going in the opposite direction and refuse to bend, it says that in his toil, “all his life he eats in darkness, in frustration, in sickness and in anger.” (Ecclesiastes 5:15-16)

I recently had a dream about someone who was going in the opposite direction of God.  They were filled with flagrant sin and in it, mocked God.  They were outside of God’s covenant and had no desire or appetite for anything outside of the world’s ways.  They were living in the wrath of God and it began to pour out on them. They were almost destroyed as a result but, near death, managed to find shelter and come into a safe place [Jesus].  While people feel like they can find safety in the world, the only safe place and shelter is the covenant of God.  Like the people of Goshen, the only safe place in times of difficulty is not in medical, emergency responders or our own ways, it is in being His people and covered by His covenant protection.  It covers us like a banner of love over us and is our shield against the world's elements that would try to pelt us.  

All of this is rooted in belief.   One chooses to believe and follow Jesus and the other does not.  When one believes, they receive from Him in covenant and when they fail to believe, they hide from Him and live in the midst of the elements of the world outside of God.  As Jesus is the embodiment of Wisdom, it says in Proverbs 8:18, “I have riches and honor, as well as enduring wealth and justice.  My gifts are better than gold, even the purest gold, my wages better than sterling silver!  I walk in righteousness, in paths of justice. Those who love me inherit wealth.  I will fill their treasuries.”

It says that without faith, it is impossible to please God.   Over and over, Jesus rebuked His disciples for not having faith and walking in their belief.  When they feared in the storm they were caught up in, He didn’t coddle them about the difficulties of their circumstances, but He rebuked them for their lack of faith in the midst of it.

In Mark 16:14, Jesus rebuked His disciples for not believing He was risen.  It says about the few who saw Him risen, “They went and told the others, but they didn’t believe them either.”   But at the same time, He commissions them for ministry and being His hands and feet.  

Their faith did not need to be perfect.  They needed to be growing in faith and willing to learn.  The disciples were not hindered from ministry due to their struggles with faith.  At the same time, there was a special place for those who did not struggle with unbelief.   We see this with Mary Magdalen at the tomb who saw the risen Christ before anyone else.   We also see this with the mother of Jesus.  When she found out by the Spirit that she was pregnant. Rather than worry if others would accept her or if Joseph would receive her, Mary magnified the Lord and proclaimed that He has done great things for her while she was in the midst of a potential divorce and accusations about her baby.

While many of the disciples doubted in unbelief at various times, Mary lived in the goodness of God and walked closely with Him.  So much so that she knew before Jesus and prompted Him about working His first miracle of turning water into wine so others would be blessed. 

Brother Lawrence walked in this kind of deep fellowship with God.  He writes, “By the practice of the Presence of God, by steadfast gaze on Him, the soul comes to a knowledge of God, full and deep, to an unclouded vision: all its life is passed in unceasing acts of love and worship, of contrition and of simple trust, of praise and prayer, and service; at times indeed life seems to be but one long unbroken practice of His Divine Presence.”

Lord, I’m not sure where I am going with this but I know the only safe place is near you.  You are the safe shelter and those with godly wisdom, seek to be close to You.    The closer I am to you the more content and joy filled I am.  Draw us in Your path of life and help us to shine your light to all who are around us. Let us bring Your Kingdom to all around who need a touch of light, hope and healing.