What Happens After Baptism Matters: A Warning for New Believers

Highlight: Seeking God immediately after salvation is essential.

“But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.”

1 Corinthians 6:11

The salvation and baptism of new believers are moments of great celebration in the church. Yet for many, once the excitement fades, a slow drift begins. Old sins resurface, new temptations arise, and spiritual passion weakens. But Scripture teaches that what should follow salvation is a lifelong process called sanctification (1 Corinthians 6:11), a daily pursuit of holiness. When that process is ignored, the consequences can be devastating.

My story 

When I was in college, I decided to get baptized at a church near campus. I came up out of the water feeling like a brand-new person, but I had no idea what came next. I didn’t attend church consistently. I didn’t know how to study the Bible. And I was not about to wrestle with the old-language New King James Version. I was juggling five classes, a part-time job, and a new social life. I figured a quick verse from the Bible app each day was enough to keep me spiritually “covered.”

I could not have been more wrong.

Slowly, I drifted away from God. What once felt like joy began to feel like a burden. I convinced myself that Christianity would hold me back from having “fun,” so I pushed God aside. I told myself I still loved Him, but in truth, my priorities were elsewhere. And as I made new friends, I realized they wanted nothing to do with God either. They encouraged me to join them in things I had never done, even sins I hadn’t struggled with before salvation. I began swearing frequently, getting involved in unhealthy relationships, and piling sin upon sin.

Eventually, I lost most of my friends and found myself making choices that took me further from God than I had ever imagined. By the time my heart tried to return to Him, I was in a new city, at a different school, in a toxic relationship, and with no one around to help me grow spiritually.

The Turning Point

I started watching sermon clips from Dr. Tony Evans and bought one of his Bible studies. But it took months before I opened it. I was still overwhelmed with school, stressed about my boyfriend’s unfaithfulness, and working part-time to survive. My life felt like it was falling apart. I was constantly moving apartments, switching jobs, and barely keeping up with my expenses.

When I finally moved away from my ex and settled into a new city, I finally carved out time to go through the Bible study. As I studied for hours every weekend, God’s Word came alive. Conviction washed over me. I realized I had wasted years of my salvation ignoring God, years that led me into places, situations, and relationships He never intended for me.

You would think I immediately surrendered my life back to God, but the truth is, I had built up habits that were hard to break. I still lacked community, mentors, and discipleship. I was attending church, but I was spiritually weak. When I got laid off, I sensed that God was redirecting my life. But the same temptations appeared again, and I made the painful mistake of letting my ex back into my life. Another move, another “fresh start,” but this time things would finally change.

When I broke up with my ex for good, leaving scars that still run deep, the consequences of years away from God became painfully obvious. I was out of college but struggling to make friends. My job barely paid enough to cover my bills, and student loans were crushing. I felt the weight of all the years I had spent drifting, years of missed opportunities, poor decisions, and spiritual neglect.

The Moment Everything Changed

Eventually, I sought therapy. And before my first (very expensive) session, the Holy Spirit spoke clearly: “You are in this place because you neglected Me.” I had spent years ignoring God, ignoring His Word, and chasing friendship and worldly fun instead of Jesus. And those choices had led to heartbreak, financial stress, and isolation.

When I shared this with my Christian therapist, she confirmed that God was speaking to me, and told me I didn’t need more sessions. (My bank account rejoiced!)

From that moment on, everything changed. I devoted hours each day to reading Scripture. I learned the power of fasting. I felt Jesus’ presence in a way I never had before. God’s Word became alive, vivid, convicting, beautiful. I returned to church faithfully and finally built a supportive community. My life stabilized, and I began stepping into the plans I once hoped for in college.

What I Learned and Why I’m Sharing This

Through all of this, I learned a hard but critical truth: seeking God immediately after salvation is essential. When we delay surrender, when we postpone obedience, the enemy fills the gap. And the years we lose, the wounds we carry, and the consequences we face remind us that drifting from God comes at a cost.

I am grateful for His mercy, His patience, and His restoration. But I also know I lost time, resources, and opportunities I can never get back. This is why I now share my story: to warn and guide new believers so they don’t walk the painful path I did. I want to help them choose Jesus early, fully, and consistently, so they can avoid the years of disappointment and danger that the enemy once used to derail my life.