“Signed, Sealed, and Delivered”
Genesis 17:1-14; Colossians 2:8-15
A courier service, UPS, or Federal Express delivers a package with a registered receipt. When the receipt arrives back in the hands of the sender it means the item has been signed, sealed, and delivered. The prosecuting attorney sends staff members to arrest a person; but first a warrant is needed from a judge. Once it’s in hand, the arrest can be made; then it’s said that the warrant has been signed, sealed, and delivered. This morning we can say the same for Kiersten and for us because, with her, in baptism we are signed, sealed, and delivered. This is the beautiful language of our Liturgy and the wonderful thrust of Scripture. Let’s take a closer look at what this means.
We say, first of all, that we are SIGNED. We’re all familiar with signs. Life is filled with signs. SIGNS ARE SYMBOLS WHICH POINT TO A GREATER REALITY. Think, for example, of traffic signs. If we come to one that is red with white letters s-t-o-p we know we’d better stop. The greater reality is that if we do not we may well be involved in an accident. Or if we drive up to a railroad crossing and see no train but the red flasher lights are blinking, the greater reality is that we’d better stop or we’ll get smashed by a train.
And there are other signs we see daily. Go to a baseball game and look at the third base coach - after every pitch he goes through a variety of motions. Very few of them mean anything, but behind a few there is a greater reality about what the batter and runner are to do with the next pitch. Husbands and wives, look at your left ring finger - on it is a wedding band. In one sense it’s just a piece of jewelry; but the greater reality is that you are married and have pledged your love in a very special way to a very special person and have taken some extremely important vows about faithfulness to him or her.
And our life of faith is filled with signs as well. Look at the cross - basically just a beautiful structure in the shape of a cross. But the greater reality is that it symbolizes the death of Jesus Christ for us. It carries memory and meaning beyond its physical appearance. So it is with baptism. It appears to the eye as just a fancy ceremony using words and water. But the greater reality is that BAPTISM IS A SIGN WHICH POINTS TO GOD’S PROMISES. The Baptism this morning did nothing to Kiersten, to us, or to God. But as the Heidelberg Catechism, in answer 66, states, the sign of Baptism simply discloses more fully the promises of God. Suppose a dear friend or relative whom you’ve not seen for a long time calls to say they’re coming to see you. Your response is, “I’ll believe it when I see it!” So she sends you a copy of her plane tickets; when you see them you take it as a sign that they will be with you soon. Such is the sign of Baptism.
It’s a sign which, first of all, points to the promise of CLEANSING. The greater reality is that there is no sin too big, to small, too awful, too trite, or too embarrassing for God to forgive. What a promise for (Kiersten as she grows up) (Jenny) - to become increasingly aware that there is nothing she can do that will ever sever the forgiveness through Jesus Christ. And every time Baptism is observed, she, and we, are reminded that this unbelievable forgiveness is available to us. Alex Haley, in his book Roots, shared the story of an old slave who one day drove his master to a great ball at an adjoining plantation. As the slave sat quietly in the buggy waiting for his master to return, he became aware not only of the sounds coming from the big house, but of strange music coming from a small hut nearby. He followed the music until he found himself standing in the doorway of a slave’s home, listening to the music of his childhood in Africa. Later that night, alone in his own cabin, he wept for what he had almost forgotten, but now had remembered. In a sense, the sacrament of baptism is God’s music which calls us back repeatedly to the truth of his forgiveness of us through Jesus Christ. It reminds us that we can always have a new start; no matter what happened yesterday, or this morning, or years ago we can always start again - forgiven and free.
The sign of Baptism also points to the greater reality of the PRESENCE God’s love in our lives. We are reminded that even before we were capable of loving God loved us. Before anyone knew what Kiersten/Jenny would look like, or what her name would be, God loved her. And so He loves us. All who are part of the community of faith, the church, can claim this amazing love of God, that while we were still sinners Christ died for us. There is nothing that can ever separate us from that love. It depends not on us but on God, who will never betray his Son by taking away what Jesus died to bring!
At its core Baptism points to the greater reality of our CITIZENSHIP. This morning we have celebrated Kiersten’s, and our, citizenship in the community of Christ. My brother-in-law was born in the Netherlands. He is now a citizen of the United States. When we one time traveled into Canada he had to show his citizenship papers to verify his status. So Kiersten now has her citizenship papers. She is now part of that chosen community through whom God will show the exceeding riches of his grace in kindness towards us in Christ Jesus (Eph. 2:7). Kiersten, and we, are royalty! Wherever we’ve been, are now, or plan to go we are royal citizens of the community of Christ. Isn’t it wonderful to live under the sign of baptism?
We are signed, and SEALED in Baptism. Most of us are familiar with seals. Seals have a number of functions, and two of them command our attention now. SEALS PROVE AUTHENTICITY. Think, for example, of the Good Housekeeping seal of approval - it means a particular item has met or exceeded certain high standards. The UL of the Underwriter’s Laboratory communicates the same message. We visit a campground or motel with the AAA trademark and we have the same assurance. Each of these seals proves authenticity and reliability.
So BAPTISM IS A SEAL WHICH POINTS TO OUR AUTHENTICITY. WE BELONG TO GOD. I have a title to my car; it means I own it and have claimed responsibility for it. So baptism reminds us God owns us and has taken responsibility for us. We belong to him. We have an identity. We can ignore him, and He will not leave us; we can turn away from him and he will pursue us. Kiersten’s life, as our lives, will be spent in relationship with Christ. We can live godly lives and experience peace or live in rebellion and experience dis-ease. But no matter what we do or what happens to us, we belong to Christ.
SEALS ALSO PREVENT TAMPERING. Some of you women can various foods; you seal the containers to prevent spoiling, to protect it. We buy drugs in the store and the bottle is sealed, so we can be assured no one has tampered with them. So the seal of Baptism also assures us of our ETERNAL PROTECTION. The powers of evil cannot undo the bond between Christ and us. Kiersten can grow up knowing that all the little defeats, disappointments, failures and frustrations of life are really just inconveniences - for she is sealed forever in her relationship with Christ. As we read in Colossians, Christ has “disarmed the principalities and powers.” We are secure, eternally protected. We are sealed by the Holy Spirit. Answer #1 of the Catechism puts it magnificently: “I belong - in body and soul in life and in death - not to myself but to my faithful Savior, Jesus Christ, who at the cost of his own blood has fully paid for all my sins and has completely freed me from the dominion of the devil; that he protects me so well that without the will of my Father in heaven not a hair can fall from my head; indeed, that everything must fit his purpose for my salvation. Therefore, by his Holy Spirit, he also assures me of eternal life, and makes me wholeheartedly willing and ready from now on to live for him.” We are sealed!
We are signed, sealed, and DELIVERED. We know what it is to deliver packages. Doctors and parents are aware of what it means to deliver babies. We’ve seen a baseball pitcher deliver the ball to home plate. But we also say of a reputable person, “She always delivers,” meaning she comes through at the right time in the right way, and does what is asked or expected of her. TO DELIVER IS TO BRING FROM ONE PLACE TO ANOTHER AND TO COME THROUGH WELL.
As such, delivery is a wonderful component of our faith also. Certainly through Christ we have been delivered; we have come from death to life. And IN BAPTISM WE DELIVER TO GOD. We deliver, first of all, OURSELVES to God. Kiersten’s parents, and many of the rest of us as members, stood earlier and spoke vows. We have all placed ourselves before Christ and have promised to be his agents in nurturing Kiersten until the day she stands alone before us to affirm Jesus Christ as her Savior. We have given our lives over to the ministry of Christ. Make no mistake about it - this morning you recommitted your life to the doing of Christ’s will, especially as it applies to Kiersten’s life.
Yet we have also delivered OUR CHILDREN. Kiersten was delivered to God today - she’s always been his, but we have publicly said her life is in God’s hands and not ours. And because this is so, we have every confidence that she will claim Christ. The battle for her has already been won at Calvary. The Sacrament of Baptism today did nothing for us and nothing for Kiersten. But it reminds us that Kiersten forever belongs to Christ. We have entrusted them to his faithful keeping, supremely confident that he is able to keep that which we’ve committed to him until that glorious day. And we claim the promise of God, spoken through Moses to Israel: “And the Lord your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your offspring so that you will love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, that you may live.”
What we’ve been proclaiming this morning is beautifully exemplified in the life of a woman we’ll call Lori. Lori was born in Chicago and grew up in an apartment on the South side. Her parents divorced when she was very young and her mother worked to support Lori and her brother. At 17 Lori dropped out of school and moved to New York. She loved New York – the pace, the wild assortment of people, the rhythm of late nights moving into early mornings in the city that never seemed to sleep. But she was soon adrift in a sea of parties. Marijuana turned to cocaine; friends turned out to be dealers and an older boyfriend coaxed her into prostitution. “Just for a while,” he told her, “until you pull yourself together.” The “little while” turned into several years; she couldn’t break the cycle cocaine now had a claim on her and so did her men. She didn’t, in fact, know anybody who was not also in the same cycle. It was her whole life.
Then, suddenly, one morning Lori got up, packed a suitcase, left the apartment and never went back. She entered a drug rehab program and came out a new person. She completed high school and went on to community college. She was asked why she walked away from the cycle and why the program worked for her. Lori warmly shared, “It was God who got me out of there. Oh, I never went to church in those years, never went much as a child either. But I never gave up on God. Something happened to me when I was pretty young – maybe eight or nine. My brother and I were home alone…We were often home at night by ourselves because my mom worked until 11:00. It was shortly before Christmas and our neighbors across the hall had invited my brother and me to go with them to church. …I don’t remember much about the program…lots of singing and some cookies. But there was a woman who sat down with us in a circle and she taught us a prayer. ‘Come into my heart, Lord Jesus.’ She told us if we prayed those words, we’d never be alone. I remember she kept looking at me like she thought I needed that prayer more than the rest.
When we got home, my mom was still at work. My brother and I went to bed…but that night I felt particularly lonely. Even a little scared. Then I remembered that prayer, ‘Come into my heart, Lord Jesus.’ I closed my eyes very tight and said the prayer over and over – when I opened my eyes, there was my mother standing in the doorway. She looked like an angel. I suppose I thought the prayer was magic! I never forgot it…I took that prayer with me everywhere – into some pretty dreadful places. I know it must sound like it took a long time for the prayer to take hold in my life. But I’m 35 now and I consider myself to be a miracle!”
Once we are given to God, He does not let go! He delivers us! Young people who have been baptized as infants - a special word for you today. The Baptism this morning may not have been very interesting for you. It could well be the whole service of worship just doesn’t excite you. You may or may not claim to believe in Jesus Christ. Perhaps being a Christian simply doesn’t interest you. Or maybe you’re trying but are sure you’ll never make it; it just too tough. Hear this - through your baptism you have been delivered to God. He has you, holds you, owns you. He will not let go. You can fight him, rebel against him, or wish He’d leave you alone. But He will have his way. Someday, sometime, somewhere you will remember your baptism, as Lori remembered her prayer. You will turn to Jesus. You will ask him into your heart. You will promise to serve him. It’s guaranteed. Between the prayers of all these people and the power of Christ, it will happen. And when it does, God will smile and say, “Gotch ‘ya! Welcome home.” So why not reaffirm your baptism this morning? Quit fighting Christ. Quit running from him. Let him have his way with you and through you. Share his purpose for life. Then watch life grow more meaningful everyday.
Parents – a special word for you. No matter how it looks to you now in regards to your children – don’t give up. Remember God’s ‘got ‘em!’ And He’ll keep them! He is able to keep that which you’ve committed unto Him.
And a special word for anyone here who is not baptized. Why not? What’s holding you back? The fact that you are here, now, today, for this service, is not an accident. God is calling you to Himself. He wants nothing more than for your life to be signed, sealed, and delivered. Don’t let this opportunity pass you by. Decide right now to give your heart to Him.
Let all of us remember that baptism is not a sign of our worth, but of God’s worth. And He is worth our lives! May we be wholeheartedly willing and ready from now on to serve him! Let us pray.
