We were deeply impressed by the reading of an article by the well known writer, Bruce Barton. He says, “There are two seas in Palestine. One is fresh and fish are in it. Splashes of green adorn it’s banks; trees spread their branches Over it and stretch their thirsty roots to sip of it’s healing waters. Along it’s shores, children play, as children played when Jesus was there: He loved this sea. He could look across it’s silver surface when he spoke his parables. On a rolling plane not far away, he fed five thousand people. The river Jordan makes this sea with it’s sparkling water from the hills. Men build their houses near to it, and birds their nests; and every kind of life is happier because it is there.
The river Jordan flows south into another sea. Here there 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 it’s water and neither man nor beast nor fowl will drink. What makes the difference between these two neighbor seas. Not the river Jordan, it empties the same good water into both. Not the soil in which the lie, not the country round about. This is the difference. The sea of Galilee receives but does not keep the Jordan. For every drop of water that flows into it, another drop flows out. The other sea is shrewder and selfish, hoarding its income jealously. It will not be tempted into any generous impulse. Every drop of water it gets, it keeps. The sea of Galilee gives and lives. The other sea gives nothing. It is named the Dead Sea. There are two seas in Palestine. There are two kinds of people in the world.”
Here is a striking lesson. There are those who receive and give to others that which they receive, and there are those who receive and give nothing in return. The water that flows into our hearts and minds is identical. It is that living stream, even the water of life. It will give everlasting life if we make proper use of it.
Let us consider the cause of the curse of the Dead Sea, and it’s consequent stagnation. On this site flourished two prosperous cities, Sodom and Gomorrah. Symbols of sin and wickedness, they illustrate what happens to those who know not God and obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Here we find a vivid illustration of what happens to the wicked. Upon this land God’s curse has rested, and such will be the final lot all those who allow this precious water of life to stagnate in their hearts and minds, and who do not freely send out this living water of life to those around us. It is a sobering, terrifying thought, it must not happen to us!
The parable of the sower is another vivid illustration of the need for fruitfulness in the life of the servant of Christ. Here the same seed fell on every type of ground. The seed that fell on good ground brought forth, some forty, some sixty, some a hundred fold. Some died almost immediately. Others lasted a short while, but all too soon the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choked the word into unfruitfulness. Let us notice this seed did not die, but were simply choked into unfruitfulness. It could be you, it could be me. WE must not let that happen !
The whole picture that we have in scripture of the acceptable servant of Christ is one of action. We are compared to soldiers, fighting the good fight of faith, that we may lay hold on eternal life. We are described as runners, we are told to grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. We are exhorted to be constant, to press toward the mark for the prize of our high calling in Christ Jesus.
It may be only coincidental but some of the greatest sources of war material known to mankind is found in the Dead Sea. Thus the results of sin, of disease and of death are in the final analysis only the destruction and death that can come as the wages of sin. Many fatal diseases are found in water, water that is not guarded against pollution. Malaria is one good example.
If there is any doubt of what is expected of us as servants of the Lord Jesus Christ, let us think of the example that he left for us to follow. Study his life, his words, his loving deeds. Loving, meek, compassionate, he spent all his time and energy helping others. He went about every city and village, healing the sick, preaching the kingdom of God. His tolerance for the weak, his disdain for the proud and haughty, his condemnation of evil in every form, these outline his life in vivid contrast to any other person who has ever lived on this earth. Our Saviour was a warm living, vital fountain head of the water of life that flows so freely from the throne of God. Truth did not stagnate in his heart and mind, his words of grace and truth came forth as springs of living water. Even his enemies had to admit, “Never man spake like this man.” What love through all his actions ran, what wondrous words of grace he spake!
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One