July 2022

Water is truly an amazing substance, yet it is so common, so abundant that we take it for granted. Its chemical composition is the bonding of two gases, hydrogen and oxygen and it is identified in a chemist's notation as H2O. We are familiar with its various forms from the gaseous, steam; to the liquid; to the solid, ice, and snow. We drink it, bathe in it, swim in it, float over it, generate electricity with it, soak the grass with it, buy special clothes for it when it falls from the sky and on and on we could go about all the uses we make of the common and remarkable substance called water given to us by God.

God has given us water not simply as an element of our physical life, but also as an object lesson to teach us spiritual truths. Water is so much a part of our lives and covers so much of this planet that it can be said that it "day unto day utters speech, and night unto night reveals knowledge. There is no speech nor language where its voice is not heard. Its line has gone out through all the earth, and its words to the end of the world" (Psalms 19:2-4). Listen and learn the lessons water can teach us.

It Refreshes

Out in the hot sun all day working hard, your throat begins to dry out and your tongue feels parched. You try to lick your lips and only end up feeling like you ran sandpaper across them. As the sweat drips from your brow, a picture comes to your mind of a tall clear glass of ice water, the ice cubes tinkling invitingly against the inside of the glass and beadlets of water sparkling on the outside of the glass. You almost tumble over your own feet in your rush inside for a drink of water to refresh your throat, body, and mind from the thirst the heat and work have whipped into you.

How refreshing water can be. David on one occasion desired to be refreshed with water from a certain well and said with longing, "Oh, that someone would give me a drink of the water from the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate" (II Samuel 23:15). Three mighty men broke into the camp of the Philistines just to obtain the water that would refresh David. Jesus praised those who refreshed little ones with "only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple" (Matthew 10:42). Jesus knew how precious it was to have a refreshing drink of water as in his agony on the cross he cried out, "I thirst" (John 19:28).

God uses our physical thirst for water, our longing for refreshment to teach us the need for spiritual thirst. David expressed the thirst of a soul longing to be refreshed in the presence of his God. "O God, you are my God; early will I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh longs for you in a dry and thirsty land where there is no water" (Psalms 63:1). As if in response to David's plea for his soul to be quenched, God promised to provide the water that would satisfy and refresh every thirsty soul, "For waters shall burst forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert. The parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water" (Isaiah 35:6-7).

Jesus told the woman of Samaria that he was the source of the refreshing living water promised by God. "Whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into eternal life" (John 4:13-14). Immediately the woman desired to drink of the water Jesus offered.

The apostles of Jesus later explained how thirsty souls might be refreshed by God's living water. One must repent and be baptized for the remission of their sins, "so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord" (Acts 2:38; 3:19). Souls that are as eager as David to be refreshed in the presence of God will submit to the command of baptism in water and they will indeed receive the forgiveness of their sins and the refreshing living water of God.

Cleanses

After a hard day of backbreaking work, nothing feels quite as good as a long hot shower or bath. To soak up the water and scrub off the sweat and grime not only cleans the body but makes one feel like a new person. We use gallons of water every day to clean our bodies, our clothes, our dishes, our cars, our pets, and anything else that we can reach with a bucket and a scrub brush.

Under the Law of Moses, cleansing with water was a frequent requirement. The frequency of cleansing with water for the priests required a bronze laver of water to be placed in the tabernacle courtyard between the altar and the door of the tabernacle. Moses was commanded concerning the laver, "You shall put water in it, for Aaron and his sons shall wash their hands and their feet in water from it. When they go into the tabernacle of meeting, or when they come near the altar to minister, to burn an offering made by fire to the Lord, they shall wash with water, lest they die" (Exodus 30:19-20).

Again the Lord has given us the physical quality of water and its use in cleansing to teach us a lesson concerning spiritual cleansing. Just as dirt will make our body filthy and require water for cleansing, so also sin will make our soul filthy and require water for cleansing. David frequently prayed to be cleansed of his sins, "Wash me throughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin... Purge me with hyssop and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow" (Psalms 51:2,7). The Lord promised in the Old Testament a means of cleansing, "In that day a fountain shall be opened for the house of David and for the inhabitants of Jerusalem, for sin and uncleanness" (Zechariah 13:1).

Under the New Testament, the Lord kept his promise and sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to open up the way to the fountain whereby those who love God might be washed, cleansed, purified, and purged of their sins. God has ordained that, for one to be cleansed of his sins, he must in faith submit to baptism in water, "the washing of regeneration" (Titus 3:5). Saul was commanded by God through Ananias, "Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord" (Acts 22:16). One must be baptized not to remove the filth of the flesh, but to give the answer of a good conscience toward God (I Peter 3:21). Only those who have had their hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and their "bodies washed with pure water" can "draw near (to God) with a true heart and in full assurance of faith" (Hebrews 10:22).

Essential to Life

Water is essential for life to exist on this planet. All creatures require water to live. The human body is three-quarters water and uses water for digestion, circulation, respiration, temperature control, waste removal, and many more functions. While one can live without food for three weeks, one cannot live for more than three days without water. Hagar and Ishmael would have died in the wilderness without water when their skin of water was used up if the Lord had not opened Hagar's eyes to find a well of water (Genesis 21:14-15).

Throughout the ages, God has made water not only a requirement for physical life but also for spiritual life. During the Patriarchal age, water became the means through which God saved Noah and his family. "God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water" (I Peter 3:20). Later, God saved the nation of Israel from the slavery of Egypt through the water of the Red Sea. Under the Law of Moses, God required that the priests wash with water before entering the tabernacle in service to God, and failure to do so meant death (Exodus 30:18-20).

Just as God requires water for our physical life and as he used water as a means to save those under the Patriarchal and Mosaical dispensations, God now requires water as an essential element for salvation under the dispensation of his dear Son. Jesus laid down the need of water for spiritual life to Nicodemus, "Most assuredly, I say unto you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God" (John 3:5). Before Jesus ascended into heaven he told his apostles, "He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned" (Mark 16:16). Because of God's requirement of baptism in water and its essentiality to our spiritual life, Peter wrote that as Noah and his family were saved through water, "There is an antitype which now saves us, namely baptism" (I Peter 3:21).

What is truly amazing about water is that the very element which we desperately need and use so much, God has blessed us with in exceeding abundance in the form of dew, rain, ponds, lakes, creeks, streams, rivers, seas and oceans. Just as so very few need to die physically for lack of water, no one needs to continue in spiritual death for lack of baptism in water in obedience to Jesus. "See here is water, what hinders me from being baptized?" (Acts 8:36).

In the heart of every person there is a longing for a Supreme Being. Men who do not know Jehovah have manufactured various gods and render their service to the gods of human minds. Those who have diligently sought for truth have come to realize that the Bible is the book about Jehovah God — the only God. We are convinced by the evidences in His word that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him (Hebrews 11:6). We become aware of our sinful condition and we cry out for deliverance from the slavery of sin. We ask, "How can I know Him? How can I diligently seek Him?" There is really only answer: you must meet Him at the cross.

It was at the cross that the love of God was fully revealed to man. It was love that produced Calvary. God was and is infinitely holy. We bow down with the living creatures before the throne and cry, "Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord, the Almighty!" because of His holiness. He is holy, but we are mired in sin. "There is none that doeth good, no not one!" How can sinful man be brought before a holy God? The answer is the cross. At the cross God's love reached down and allowed His Son to endure the awfulness and the anguish of suffering the ignominious death by crucifixion. That death paid the penalty for the sins of man — for everyone who will come to Him in His appointed way. Here the pure and innocent Son of God died for sinful man.

Law could not remove man's sins. Law could only show that man was a sinner. At the cross I saw myself as I was. I saw myself in my sins. I saw that I was completely helpless on my own (Romans 5:6-8). I saw that there was a way out. That way is Jesus Christ who is God who came in human flesh to go to the cross for me. I tried to make it on my own only to fail miserably. But at the cross I met Jesus. He forgave me of every sin. He put a new heart within me. He taught me what it is to love God and what it is to love my brothers and sisters. He gave me a freedom that could come from no other source.

Friend, you need Jesus. You may know what the Bible says about right and wrong. You may be present at every service. But unless you have been made free by the cross, you do not know God. When you have seen Jesus in His word, your faith can become active as you go to the cross for forgiveness. When you repent and are baptized, every sin is sent away and you have room for Jesus in your heart. When He is there, all sin can be driven out even as it daily seeks to come in. When He is there, doing right becomes a genuine joy. Praising Him becomes your delight. Meet Him there. 

“During those many days the king of Egypt died, and the people of Israel groaned because of their slavery and cried out for help. Their cry for rescue from slavery came up to God. And God heard their groaning, and God remembered His covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. God saw the people of Israel—and God knew.” (Exodus 2:23-25)

I cannot think of anything more comforting in this life than the knowledge that God listens and cares about every individual part of His creation. Even during the darkest and most painful times,  if we are seeking Him, He does not leave or forsake us. And yet, as we suffer and wait and life seems to drag on with no significant change to the circumstances burdening our hearts and our shoulders, we may be tempted to doubt God’s faithfulness. There is a song that comes to mind when I think of fighting this particular temptation to doubt, and its words express the perspective we should strive to maintain.

“Does Jesus care when my heart is pained too deeply for mirth or song, as the burdens press, and the cares distress and the way grows weary and long? Does Jesus care when my way is dark with a nameless dread and fear? As the daylight fades into deep night shades, does He care enough to be near? Does Jesus care when I’ve tried and failed to resist some temptation strong; when for my deep grief there is no relief, though my tears flow all the night long? Does Jesus care when I’ve said ‘goodbye’ to the dearest on earth to me, and my sad heart aches till it nearly breaks, is it aught to Him? Does He see?”

Now, if this is where the song ended, it would be a terribly depressing song indeed. If this section alone were the extent of our confidence in God’s care for us, we of all men would be the most pitiable. We may genuinely ask, “Does God care?” We may be beside ourselves with the stresses and pains of this life. We may buckle under the pressure of the temptations within and without. We may feel the inescapable pain of separation in this life that tears our hearts asunder. But remember, “God saw the people of Israel—and God knew.” Remember, “The Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgement.” (1 Peter 2:9) Remember that God has promised “to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels.” (2 Thessalonians 1:7)

“Oh yes, He cares, I know He cares, His heart is touched with my grief; when the days are weary, the long nights dreary, I know my Savior cares.”

“For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And He who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that  for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:22-28)

Elsewhere in Exodus, we are reminded that Israel lived in Egypt for 430 years. It seems very reasonable to conclude that during that entire time none of Israel knew God’s specific plan to bring them out of Egypt, until He put it into effect. We have the privilege of learning from God’s redemption of Israel, that we will suffer and suffer what seems to be an incredibly long time, but also that God’s plan is perfect and His promise is sure. He sees and He knows and He will come again to rescue us and bring us into the place He has prepared, where we will dwell with Him forevermore.

Summer Definition

"Summer" is naturally a flexible term when speaking about ecosystems, which can exist in a variety of different climates where summers may be wildly different from each other. In some places summer may herald the beginning of a rainy season, while in others it may start a long, dry spell without any water at all. Some summer seasons are very long and can last half the year or more, and in other areas the summer season is barely noticeable. However, if atmospheric conditions, soil properties and general location are all taken into account, summer can be seen as a period of warmer temperatures (at least slightly) at any place in the world.

Moist Environments

These warmer temperatures mean, of course, heat. Heat is both the bane and blessing of most ecosystems. Summer heat is usually required for animals and plants to survive, but competition over it can be fierce. In tropical ecosystems, for instance, trees and plants are in a continual struggle to reach the most sunlight possible, stretching leaves and fronds toward the summer light and crowding out any smaller plants, which, left in shadow, have little chance of survival. Animals are also greatly affected by the heat, especially small organisms like bacteria or creatures like insects. In moist environments, summer heat can increase the growth of bacteria and viruses, creating a greater chance for the spread of disease, although the heat also increases the viability of insect eggs and raises the insect population, giving smaller animals more to eat and spreading more energy throughout the food chain.

Dry Areas

In dry areas, summer heat can be very dangerous, and many animals seek protection underground and venture out mostly at night. Desert plants will often seal off their pores during the driest months and use their reserves of water and carbohydrates to survive, synthesizing more proteins during the night when it is cooler. Of course, some animals need this heat to survive--cold-blooded creatures like lizards and snakes must warm themselves in the sun's rays, and summer can be the most active time for these scaled creatures, giving them the chance to spread out and find mates.

Animals especially (although plants also go through the process) change their patterns and behaviors based on the cycle of seasons. Scientists believe that organisms naturally sense the changes in the light cycles of the sun and automatically change their behavior accordingly. Many animals breed so that they give birth in the spring and raise their young in the summer, when food is plentiful and there is safety in numbers. In very cold areas, animals wait until summer, when the ice begins to melt, to migrate, mate and forage for food. Plants can be more picky about just the right conditions to grow flowers or produce seeds, but the seasons, along with temperatures and moisture conditions, also play an enormous role in governing their cycles.