Based on Matthew 5:43-48 (New King James Version)
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.”
Apart from the air, water is what is most necessary for mankind to live. Moreover, approximately 60% of the human body is composed of water. According to H.H. Mitchell, Journal of Biological Chemistry 158, 73% of the brain and heart is composed of water. 83% of lungs is water. 64% of our skin is water. 79% of our muscles and kidneys is water, and 31% of our bones is water. And a normal person can die of thirst within 3 days. Undoubtedly, water is important for all body functions, for survival. Let’s think for a moment, “What would happen if there wasn’t any rain? Droughts have been seen in the past in different parts of the world and throughout human history, and they have been truly devastating. Everything starts to suffer when there is no water. There would be no water for food and animals. There would be no water for vital functions within different industries. And of course, we would start having serious problems not only because we would be lacking food and essential functions in society, but also, because we ourselves would not have anything to drink. And if a drought would last very long, it’s even possible that our civilization would cease to exist. It’s amazing how things would be affected when something so simple would be missing, and that no human riches or power would be able to fix such a problem!
The thought of water came to my heart the other day while driving to work, when I saw a lot of rain fall along the way. For starters, I began to think, “The day is looking quite ugly!” But suddenly, this question came to me, “What would happen if such a thing didn’t occur?” The majority of people do not like the rain. Rain makes the sky look dark and gray. Many people get depressed with rain. Many people complain when the rain ruins their plans. In summary, for many of us, the rain and storms are bothersome and unpleasant. Nonetheless, we saw before that water is essential for everything in the human body, and for everything on this planet, and that without water, everything would be destroyed. And how is water produced so that we could have it? Through the rain and storms, when the weather looks unpleasant and ugly, when the sky turns gray and dark, in the manner that it bothers many people, and even in ways that can be destructive, because floods can be devastating also. What a dilemma, no? What can we learn from all of this?
To be able to have something as necessary as water, and to be able to withstand it when it comes strong, the only way to be able to survive a storm and even floods when they come is by building on top of something that is higher than a possible flood and immovable. Because what good would it be that we have all of the rain we need, but not being able to survive it when it comes in a potentially destructive manner, in a manner that we could even lose our lives? The Lord spoke to us about this very same thing, and that it is necessary to base our lives on the rock, and doing such a thing is convenient not only to withstand storms, but also to be able to endure so we can take advantage of the blessing the water leaves. As it is written: “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. ‘But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.’” Matthew 7:24-27.
We already saw that water is essential for everything in life, and that without water, nothing can subsist. Therefore, if water is so necessary, then we would have to conclude that the rain and the storms are necessary also, because that is how water comes normally. There needs to be these gray, dark, and even storm-filled days so that we can obtain something as valuable and necessary as water. This teaches us that the storms of life are necessary so that God’s blessing can come through them. That’s why, instead of avoiding or complaining about the storms, we need to look for the way to endure them and even to harvest from them the great blessings that they do produce. Difficulty is necessary in the life of a Christian. Nothing in the Bible says that we would have a perfect and problem-free life here. And as we proved, problems are necessary and they even produce blessing. This is what we read also: “But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last your care for me has flourished again; though you surely did care, but you lacked opportunity. Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:10-13.
The great thing about God is that if we are in Christ, with our eyes set on Christ, we could even walk on water in the middle of the storm, as we read here: “But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary. Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, ‘It is a ghost!’ And they cried out for fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, ‘Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.’ And Peter answered Him and said, ‘Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.’ So He said, ‘Come.’ And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, ‘Lord, save me!’ And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, ‘O you of little faith, why did you doubt?’” Matthew 14:24-31. That is why we need a genuine and true faith, just as we are warned: “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” Hebrews 11:6. It is not necessarily God’s will to avoid problems and even problematic people (the evil and our enemies), but rather, to grow and even be fruitful through them, because God wants to gain from us an eternal product, to prepare us for this: “But as it is written: ‘Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.’” 1 Corinthians 2:9. Do you understand just how necessary water is for you? Lord bless! John