What
came first? Rain from the sky or water from the ground?
I
must admit I hadn’t really thought about this, but today’s passage has really
intrigued me. When the Earth was created, how did water form on this planet? Did
it occur through condensation – the hot Earth cooled and hydrogen with oxygen
combined in the process, or was it through evaporation – icy comets hitting the
hot planet repeatedly causing showers of rain in the atmosphere? I’m not a
scientist, environmentalist, or even a geologist, so I have no clue whatsoever
about the processes involved. I guess it must have taken a considerably long time
for water to appear on the Earth, but I’m also confident that this was a significant
part of God’s creative plan and amazing patience. After all, how many planets
in our Solar System currently have the gift of water on their surface?
Whatever
the circumstances, this I do know: water is a precious commodity and one which significantly
impacts the health of all of us on this wee planet. Much of the ill health,
disease, and poverty in the world today can be attributed to the lack of clean
water in many areas around the globe. The sad thing is this: we have the scientific,
economic, and technological ability to clean the world’s entire water supply
but due to our greed, sin, and inhumanity, we often lack the will to do
anything about it. If we truly want to bequeath anything worthwhile to our
descendants that will make their lives better, then clean water should be this
planet’s first priority.
This
coming Sunday is Earth Day. As Christians, we will be praising and praying to
our Creator. Perhaps we should all ask Him what we can do to make the world a
better place and to give our brothers and sisters across the globe access to clean
drinking water.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are the
Living Water of faith, hope, and love in our lives. Across many nations,
billions of people do not have easy access to healthy water. Open our hearts
and minds to the challenge of providing clean water for everyone in the world
within a generation. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.
John
Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If
you would like to comment on today’s message, then please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.
Today’s
image is John’s latest drawing for Earth Day. If you would like to see a larger
version, please click on the following link: http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5455/6942425398_1632459efd_b.jpg
