Every day I walk somewhere; either in and toward the light or I walk in and toward the darkness. I have that choice. I have to make the right choice each day. I cannot depend on what I did yesterday, last week, last month, and last year. Today is the only day I have in which to walk. If I choose to walk away from God, being obsessed and preoccupied with the things of this world and this earth, I will, in the end wind up eternally separated from Him.

"For when they speak great swelling words of emptiness, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through lewdness, the ones who have actually escaped from those who live in error. While they promise them liberty, they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought into bondage. For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning. For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them. But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: 'A dog returns to his own vomit," and, "a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire'" (2 Pet. 2:18-22).

"Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified" (1 Cor. 9:24-27).

God says that a man can again be entangled in the corruption of this world through lust; and that if it happens that man will be condemned and separated from God – going so far as to say “it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them.” I will fight the good fight of faith today.

If, however, I choose to walk toward God, being concerned about the things of His will and His church, I can only end up blessed and wind up eternally together with the God of glory!

"And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him" Obedience to Christ is paramount. If we do not focus on that we will end up obeying the flesh.

Today I will choose to walk in the light; asking forgiveness for those times I have become distracted and having set my mind on things of this earth. God is faithful.

"If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them" (Col. 3:1-7).

I have died to sin through obedience to Christ, having put on Christ in baptism. Notice Paul's admonition:

"What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. For he who has died has been freed from sin. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him" (Rom. 6:1-9).

Have you died to sin yet? The only way you can do that is by being baptized into Christ's death, being buried with Him through baptism into death. Having done so, just as Christ was raised from the dead, so we will be in the likeness of His resurrection.

There is a great lie being propagated in the name of Jesus that says salvation is had before and without baptism. Why is this lie so important to Satan? Because it is in baptism that we are made a new creation (Rom. 6:4), brought into the family of God (Acts 2:41-47), put Jesus on (Gal. 3:27), put to death the flesh (Rom. 6:3), put the body of sin to death being crucified with Christ (Rom. 6:6), receive forgiveness (Acts 2:38), freed from sin (Rom. 6:7), receive the promise of living with Christ (Rom. 6:8) and we have the hope of the resurrection (Rom. 6:5)! Satan and his dominion do not want this to occur. The next time you are tempted to think that baptism is not essential to salvation as a commandment of God or you hear someone (no matter how popular they are) say so, remember these Scriptures.

I have decided today to follow Jesus; to die to sin; to walk in the light; to remember that I have been set free in Christ through obedience to His will.

You have this decision to make today too. What decision will you make? It does not matter how long you have believed the clever lie that baptism is not necessary; today you can change your mind. Today you can obey the gospel as God has prescribed it. Do not fear. Just obey the Truth.