Have you ever wanted to be Neo from the movie the Matrix—especially during exam season? In the movie, a plug is put into Neo’s neck. It runs a program, and moments later Neo states, “I know kung fu.” A whole new world opens up to him. How great would it be if we could just plug in, run a program, and understand a semester’s worth of calculus!  

In Baptism, we receive downloads that are even more amazing than kung fu (or calculus). By the water and the Word, we receive forgiveness of sins, faith, and new life in Christ. Whether you are sprinkled or dunked, you are immersed in the new language of that life: hope.

Hope sounds exotic to the ears of this world. It’s like when I hear someone speaking French: I don’t understand it, but I don’t want them to stop either.

“Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them” (Ephesians 4:29 NLT).

There is so much noise in the world, and precious little could be categorized as good or helpful. Your words of hope will stand out; they will attract attention. When you hear complaints but speak gratitude, hear gossip but speak encouragement, hear frustrations but speak solutions, you will change the world.

After Neo learns kung fu, his mentor, Morpheus, says, “Show me.” Through the water and the Word, we are fluent in the language of hope. Our Mentor says, “Show me.” Speak hope into a world desperate for it.