The Green Mile - Dead Men Walking

Did you see the movie “The Green Mile”. It was about a man on death row. On death row when the inmate made his final walk to his death they called it the Green Mile and those around him would say as he passed by - “Dead man walking”.

Mankind, from the cradle to the grave, are simply dead men walking for the Bible tells us that…

“All have sinned...the wages of sin is death…” (Romans 3:23a; 6:23a)

But God has given us the good news that after our death…

“…the free gift of God is eternal life…” (Romans 6:23b)

Baptism is sometimes misunderstood in churches. In the church where I grew up in the Pastor would repeat these words when he baptized someone - “buried with Christ in Baptism, raised to walk in newness of life”. 

To many this meant that the one being baptized had been saved, had died to sin of the old life, and when they come up out of the water they were clean from sin and would go live thereafter in newness of life among the church family. 

That is not what Baptism represents at all. 

Baptism is the visual testimony of the Good News that just as Jesus died, was buried and was the first to be raised to immortal life, so in like manner all people die, and will be raised to walk in immortal life...That is THE GOSPEL.

“But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. But each in turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him…The last enemy to be destroyed is death…so that God may be all in all.” (1 Corinthians 15:22-28)

So go tell somebody the good news that although the wages for sin is death, the free gift of God is eternal life…and give thanks.