|
|
From Pastor Alan September 2010 Bruce Barton once described the human condition with a gripping word picture. Using the geography of the Holy Land, which is the subject of much of his writing, he drew this analogy: There are two seas in Palestine. One is fresh and there are fish in it. Splashes of green adorn its banks. Trees spread their branches over it and stretch out their thirsty roots to sip of its healing waters. Along its shores, the children play, as children played when He (Jesus) was there. He loved it. He could look across its silver surface when He spoke His parables. And in the rolling plain not far away, he fed 5,000 people. The river Jordan makes this sea with sparkling water from the hills. Men build their houses near to it, and birds build their nests; and every kind of life is happier because it's there. The river Jordan flows on south into another sea. Here is no splash of fish, no fluttering leaf, no song of birds, no children's laughter. Travelers choose another route, unless on urgent business. The air hangs heavy above its water, and neither man nor beast nor fowl will drink. What makes this mighty difference in these neighboring seas? Not the river Jordan. It empties the same good water into both. Not the soil in which they lie, nor the country round about. This is the difference. The Sea of Galilee receives but does not keep the Jordan. For every drop that flows into it, another drop flows out. The other sea is shrewder, hoarding its income jealously. It will not be tempted into any generous impulse. Every drop it gets, it keeps. The Sea of Galilee gives and lives. The other sea gives nothing. It is named The Dead. There are two seas in Palestine. There are two kinds of people in the world. Provocative and thoughtful as Barton's word picture is, it is also incomplete. What do you think is missing? The implication, of course, is that the reason the Sea of Galilee thrives is because it gives as well as receives and the reason the Dead Sea is called Dead is because it only receives and gives nothing in return. That, however, is not the case. You see, in the economy of God there are no dead ends. There are no impossible situations. The fact is, the Dead Sea does give. Around its shores are the richest potash deposits anywhere in the world. Potash is the primary ingredient in fertilizer. That potash is mined and used to help make desert lands fertile – to help make crops grow. So, while there is nothing that goes out of the Dead Sea, its evaporating waters that go up toward the heavens leave their residue of potash. God has seen to it that even the Dead Sea gives. As part of His natural creation, the Dead Sea has no choice in the matter. You and I do. We can refuse to give. We can refuse to love. We can refuse to share. God will not stop us because that would be a violation of our freedom as human beings. And God will not violate that freedom. Blessings, |
|
Davis Street United Methodist Church |
