Cucumbers

The ancient Greek poet and physician Nicander used the process of pickling cucumbers to illustrate an interesting distinction. The cucumber goes through two stages.

First, it is briefly dipped into boiling water. This is a temporary encounter. The cucumber is immersed, but only for a moment. Then it is placed in a vinegar solution, where it remains. Over time, that solution penetrates the cucumber, changing its flavor and making it delicious and refreshing to eat. The first process is temporary; the second produces a lasting change.

Now, let’s think about that in terms of our walk with Christ.

Water baptism is a powerful outward declaration of our identification with Jesus Christ. We go down into the water, symbolizing our identification with His death, and we rise to walk in the newness of life.

But following Jesus is about more than a moment in the water. It is about a lifetime of being transformed by His presence, His Word, and the work of His Holy Spirit. Jesus said, “Remain in me, as I also remain in you.”

In other words, we don’t just have a moment with Jesus; we build our lives in Him. We don’t just experience His presence on Sunday; we learn to walk with Him Monday through Saturday as well.

Another companion illustration is marriage. We walk down the aisle and make a public declaration and commitment to our spouse. But the real expression of that commitment unfolds day by day, 24/7, through both the joys and the challenges of life. As we continue to live out that commitment, our love grows and matures.

Likewise, we don’t just make a public declaration of faith and leave it at that. We nurture that faith and allow it to shape our character, our relationships, our decisions, and the way we love people. God is not simply interested in the moment we are immersed. He desires to transform the life we live when we come up out of the water.

Baptism declares whom we belong to. Our daily abiding and listening transform the very fabric and pulp of our spirit, revealing the delicious and attractive qualities of Jesus in and through our lives.