This Water makes all the difference
Jackie and I had a fantastic time in the Cape with our children and family over Christmas and New Year. The place was packed with a holiday vibe. But what really struck us most when we visited the Tulbagh Ceres Oppi-berg area, where our son farms, were the fruit trees bending their branches with the heavy loads of fruit they are busy producing – nectarines, peaches, plums, cherries – and apples, pears coming into season! As we climbed the Gydo Pass taking us into the Koue Bokkeveld, we stopped at the “’uitkyk” post. We found our answer for the abundance of fruit. As far as the eye can see as we glanced down the Ceres valley – dams and dams with fresh water. We shared together that in this fertile valley the water makes all the difference!
Gabri (our son) took us around on the farm Kromfontein, situated between beautiful mountains at Oppi Berg. Jackie and I were overwhelmed with the beauty of God’s creation and how our Lord sustains nature and makes everything grow. Psalm 8 verse 1 – O Lord, our Lord how majestic is Your Name in all the earth! He took us to the heart of Kromfontein. He said, “Dad, this is the hub that everything turns around. This is called the “Groot” dam. We have many dams as you’ve seen, but this one makes the farm produce its crops. The water from these mountains around us feeds this dam. They were covered with snow in the winter. We had brilliant rains. And from here we pump and take the water to all our orchards, potato and onion fields.’’
This picture took me back and challenged me afresh about what Leigh, our senior pastor, preached on in 2012, in the series on the gospel of John.
On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, ‘’If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.’’ By this he meant the Spirit , whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified. John 7:37-39
God, the Father has sent us His Son to give us life to the full when we receive Him as our personal Saviour. Our Saviour, King, Brother and Friend! He quenches our thirst – permanently! The woman at the well (John 4) experienced exactly that when she came. And… He has given us His Holy Spirit, the Spirit of truth, to live in us and to be with us forever.
2013? Lord keep on filling me with Your Spirit!
Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead be filled with the Spirit. Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks, to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Submit to one another out of reverence to Christ.Ephesians 5:18-21
My prayer:
Lord, give me this water so that I won’t get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water! Please, “move me to the right’’ that I will keep on drinking the Water of Life and keep on sharing the Water of Life – Amen.
Our Lord continues to draw us closer to Him.
Lots of love to all of you!
Your friend,
Dennis Beeselaar