Buried Alive by F. M. W.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Aug 10, 1916

Buried Alive

By F. M. W.

To be buried alive is a terrible experience. We have known of many persons who have for years cherished the dread that they would be thus buried. We were reading recently of a man who provided that in event of his supposed death the arteries in his wrists should be severed to secure him against any possibility of being buried alive. It is safe to say, however, that but comparatively few, in these days of medical science and accurate death tests, ever meet this experience. There is much greater danger that men and women who profess the name of Christ and go forward in the ordinance of baptism will be buried alive. And this spiritual experience, when its far-reaching results are considered, is even more terrible to contemplate than the experience of the physical man.

We must admit that there are many in the church of Christ who have never really died to sin. They have gone through the form of baptism, but have exemplified no death of the “old man” in their lives. Their affections and desires and purposes remain practically unchanged. They loved the world before baptism, and they love it still. They were the servants of sin, in bondage to the lusts of the flesh, the pride of life, passion, temper, etc., before baptism; they are having the same experience at the present time. Rising from the watery grave did not mean to them walking in newness of life.

There is no power in baptism of itself to change the heart. This ordinance is an outward symbol representing the union of the believer with his Master. The marriage ceremony does not unite the hearts of the man and woman. It is a formal statement to the world that their hearts and lives have been united in the bonds of love and affection.

What is our experience? Were we buried alive at the hour of our baptism? Have our lives since that event been of a nature to show to the world that we were indeed baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus Christ? The possession of his name means the possession of that for which his name stands. The name “Jesus” means salvation from sin. If we truly profess his name, we shall know his saving power in our lives. It is a terrible thing to have a name to live, and yet after all be dead, to profess to be Christ’s while in our lives we deny him. If this has been our experience in the past, let us reconsecrate our hearts to him, asking that his Spirit cast down every idol and enthrone the Lord Jesus Christ chief and foremost in all our affections.

F. M. W.