“Then went he down, and dipped himself seven times in Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God: and his flesh came again like unto the flesh of a little child, and he was clean” (2 Kings 5:14). This verse is about Naaman, a Syrian official. Naaman had been told by Elisha to submerse himself seven times in the Jordan River to heal his leprosy. Naaman thought it ridiculous that he should do such. It did not make any sense to him, and, in fact, he was insulted by such advice from Elisha. His servants finally convinced him to follow Elisha’s directions.
All of us will sin. Sin is the transgression of God’s law. A child has no sin. Ezekiel 18 makes it plain that a child does not inherit his father’s sin. God does not hold a child accountable for his father’s sin. Sin gives our soul spiritual leprosy. Today, we are told to be baptized to wash away our sins (Acts 22:16). By washing away the sin, God makes our souls like the soul of the child—clean and safe in God’s eyes.
Many people today are like Naaman. They think it is ridiculous that they should be baptized. They will accuse others of practicing ‘water salvation.’ Naaman was not cured because of the water. He was cured because of his obedience. Today, individuals can be cured of their sin. It is not the water that cures them, but it is their obedience to God’s command to be baptized that takes away sins.
If you are still a child, you are not guilty of sin. One day, you will be old enough to know right from wrong. Once that happens, you will sin. Your soul will no longer have the “flesh of a little child.” You will need to follow God’s command to be baptized. Then, you will once again have your soul as the “flesh of a little child.”
Study your Bible. Obey God. If any of this is hard to understand, ask an adult to help you.
