Why Wait?
Why Wait?
Acts 22:16
- Clearly Paul was now aware that the One he was persecuting was alive and risen from the dead. Then why did Ananias ask Paul, "Why wait?"?
It may be because Paul may have been considering waiting—and this could have been for bad reasons or because of a deep sense of his own sin, which was preventing him from coming; or it could have been because he was weighing up the high cost of conversion.
- Why did Paul bring this up here, in this telling of his testimony, when that question was not mentioned in Acts 9 and 26. Obviously, he wanted his audience to ponder over it.
- Let us reflect on this question ourselves, "Why wait?"
- One of the problems with people being raised in the Baptist church is knowing when the appropriate time to be baptised is. The answer is 'when you have become a believer.' But then, when do we become believers?
Three bad reasons that may cause us to not want to be baptised:
1. Feeling unworthy
- Remember the man he was before this: he was Saul of Tarsus—wrathful, violent, persecutor of the church, murderer of Christians, a liar, a servant of Satan, an anti-Christ, and a blasphemer.
- How beautiful and incredibly gracious of Ananias to have said these words to Paul—that there's no reason for him to wait.
- The Lord is able to wash away his great sins!
- If you think you are unworthy to be forgiven of your sins, you are correct! Yet, that is no reason to not call on Jesus' name. In fact, that is the reason you should do it! You must have your sins washed away.
- If you think you are doing well by yourself, you are a fool! Tonight, your life may be required of you!
- Being unworthy, we may feel that coming to God and being forgiven is stealing His undeserved grace. This grace, though, is a free gift for you who believe, and it has been made possible through Christ.
- Yet, it will be wrong for you to assume that because it's a free gift, that God doesn't demand something of you. God demands faith from you.
- We might doubt the genuineness of our faith, because we feel like our knowledge of our salvation is shallow.
- Saving faith is not perfect faith, saving repentance is not perfect repentance. Then how much faith and repentance is enough. Enough, if it causes us to come to Christ for forgiveness (John 6:35-37).
2. Feeling unschooled/untaught
- It's not completely wrong to consider this especially for young people, as sufficient maturity is needed to credibly confess Christ.
- Given the quick transition from being an enemy of the church to being its champion, Paul was very well educated in things that undermine Christianity, but not educated in the gospel. Yet this was no reason for him not to get baptised.
3. Feeling unprepared
- Paul was told just how much he was to suffer for the sake of the Name, but he did not need to be cowed down by it
- Worrying about missing out on some experiences you are longing for and hanging on to your reputation, family, friends, and comforts. These may be hindering you from coming to Christ.
- Young people, if you are weighing up the pros and cons, there's no comparison between the value of the kingdom of God and the good things of this world (see Matthew 13:44-47 Parable of the Hidden Treasure).
ONE good reason to be baptised.
- Baptism is not an invitation, it is a command.
Why wait?
Time is running out.
Do not delay.
Come to Christ, trust and believe in Him.