G R O U N D W AT E R IN THE SEASON OF DROUGHT
INTRODUCTION A couple weeks ago we talked about the season of famine, which as we know, is an extreme scarcity of food and in a spiritual sense, scarcity of the word of God. For this lesson we turn our focus to the season of drought and the importance of groundwater during this arid time, speaking first in common terms and then breaking it down spiritually to help you gain a better understanding as it pertains to your salvation.
SEASON OF DROUGHT A drought and famine can occur concurrently but they are not the same thing. A drought is a prolong period of low rainfall, leading to a shortage of water. There are different degrees of drought as outlined by the US Drought Monitor (USDM). • D0 - short term dryness - typical of the onset of drought.
Can result in slow crop growth and elevate fire risk to above average.
• D1 - at this level, it is expected that crops and pastures
will be damaged, fire risk will be high and steam, reservoir or well levels are low. • D2 corresponds to an area where crop and pasture
losses are likely, fire risk is extremely high, water shortages are common and water restrictions are voluntary or mandated.
• D3- crop and pasture losses are common, fire risk very
extreme with widespread water shortages and subsequent water restrictions.
• D4- exceptional and widespread crop and pasture
losses, fire risk and water shortages that result in water emergencies.
WORLDWIDE DROUGHT There are varying levels of drought highly concentrated in the western part of the US including areas such as California, Oregon, Nevada, Utah, and Arizona as well as the southern part of Texas and the entire state of Florida. And of course throughout the globe there are ongoing drought conditions in South America, Africa, the Middle East, Australia and more. As the earth grows older, its resources will continue to deplete and it will not function as well as it once did. Because there is not only a falling away of goodness in this world but a falling way of this earth’s physical state. This is God’s will.
W AT E R I S E S S E N T I A L The scarcity of water can have devastating consequences because all life on earth depends on it. When you think of water, the first thing that comes to mind is something that you drink or to wash with. But water has so many more uses including irrigation for crops, industrial activity and even electricity generation! Now the human body is composed of 60% water. Did you also know that we can only live 3 days without water? Some of the benefits of water include: lubricating of joints, cushioning of the brain, spinal cord and other sensitive tissues, regulating of body temperature, maintaining of blood pressure and flushing away of body waste.
S O U R C E S O F W AT E R Sources of drinking water come from lakes and rivers (surface water) and of course, groundwater. Now groundwater is of particular interest. What is it? Groundwater is the water stored beneath the earth in soil or pores and crevices of rock and it supplies 61% of drinking water within the US and 99% of rural areas. 64% of groundwater is used for crop irrigation and it also is essential for industrial processes some of which include fabricating, processing, washing, diluting, cooling or transporting metal, paper or wood products for example.
G R O U N D W AT E R How is groundwater formed? It can come from melting ice, snow and rain. Let’s focus on your typical rainy day. As the water falls down it first wets the soil and as more rain falls, it then filters through the soil, hence becoming groundwater. The speed at which the water soaks through the ground depends on the the type of soil it is as well as the intensity and length of the storm. There are two zones that groundwater falls in. The unsaturated zone is the water just beneath the earth’s surface and the saturated zone is the area in which all the pores and rock fractures are filled with water. The top of the saturated zone is known as the water table, which can literally be hundreds of feet below the ground’s surface, hidden from the visible eye but playing a vital role in the sustenance of earth and living creatures.
SPIRITUAL SIGNIFICANCE Spiritually where does groundwater come from, what does it do for us and how does it sustain us in this season of drought? Two major sources of our spiritual groundwater comes from the Holy Spirit and Jesus Christ. Both Christ and the Holy Spirit come from God the Father and they are in fact one. “For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one,� ( I John 5: 7). Because they are one you may see similarities in the works they do for the saints but there are also distinct differences in the roles they play in our salvation.
H O LY S P I R I T Take the Holy Spirit for example. We pray to God the Father to ask Him for the Holy Spirit. It is Christ who pours the Holy Spirit upon us as a rain falling down from heaven. Note the words of John the Baptist in Mark 1: 6-8 “And John was clothed with camel's hair, and with a girdle of a skin about his loins; and he did eat locusts and wild honey; And preached, saying, There cometh one mightier than I after me, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose. I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost.� We cannot see the actual rain but we instead see the spiritual effects within us. We can feel His presence.
H O LY S P I R I T What are some of the works of the Holy Ghost? He convinces us of righteousness and causes us to repent for our sins, He teaches us the truth and He helps us develop skills and talents, enabling us to flourish in the word of God (St. John 16: 7 -13, Galatians 5: 22-25 and I Corinthians 12: 7-11). This spiritual rain is something that we receive while on this earth and in this flesh and it is known as the former rain moderately, (Joel 2: 23). Now why would it be called the former rain moderately? We receive this rain gradually and in measure according to God’s will. This rain may peak at different times in our life as we gain greater understanding of God’s word or develop skill and talents that aide in our spiritual exploits.
THE GROUND Now the ground or soil represents one’s heart. This is not hard to see if you consider the parable of the sower and the seed, (Matthew 13: 1-23). When rain filters through the soil beneath the surface that is liken to the Holy Spirit penetrating our hearts. That is how groundwater from the Spirit forms. The heart is the core of who an individual is and it is at the center of one’s will and desire. One will not obey God if it is not in their hearts to do it. Recall in Matthew 6: 21, “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”
PA R A B L E O F T H E SOWER & THE SEED If you go back to the parable of the sower and the seed, remember that the seed was planted in different types of ground but only took root and remained in the good ground. The seed represent’s Christ’s word. When the former rain moderately comes down upon us and filters through the soil or our hearts, it helps the seed of truth to take root within us. The water washes away the impurities in our hearts and circulates throughout our entire being so that a change can comes forth within us.
JESUS CHRIST Lets discuss our Savior. When Jesus died on the cross, they pierced His side and both blood and water came out. In St. John 19: 34, “But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water,” and in I John 5: 6, This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood..” Once the blood and water fell to the ground, it brought forth grace to all mankind, penetrating the earth’s surface just as Christ penetrates our hearts.
L I V I N G W AT E R S Therefore this water is also a form of spiritual groundwater, known as living waters in the scripture. See St. John 4: 10 & 14. “If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water. But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.�
L I V I N G W AT E R S Note the words, “in him a well of water.” A well is a structure created in the ground in order to access none other than groundwater. And this well of water from Christ dwells within us, that we may continue to quench our thirst. So how do we obtain this water? We have to read the word, which is synonymous with Christ. When we study the Bible we consume not only His body, but His blood and His water. By doing so, His truth becomes a part of us so the we ultimately gain eternal life, (remember the words…. “well of later springing up into everlasting life”).
W AT E R O F T H E S P I R I T & J E S U S And just like the Holy Spirit, when we consume the living waters of Christ it refreshes our spirit, cleanses sin and impurities from our heart and helps circulate and transport the truth throughout our entire being. Lets move on.
W AT E R I N A S E A S O N O F D R O U G H T In order for a seed to continue to grow it needs daily access to water; however, in our area and especially in dryer more arid climates it does not rain everyday. That is why groundwater is so essential. From a spiritual standpoint, we live in a time of drought. What does this mean? This is the removal of God’s Spirit and truth from the sons of men. We can see a moral decay in today’s society with the increase in greed, racism, violence and sodomy. And it will only get worse as the stage is set for Babylon to fall.
W AT E R I N A S E A S O N O F D R O U G H T But as the Father continues to remove His spirit and truth from the sons of men, it remains within His remnant. And it is the spiritual groundwater that helps us sustain everyday.
JESUS CHRIST & THE SPIRIT Think of what Christ and the Holy Spirit do for you on a daily basis. The Spirit is that small voice that is constantly directing you to righteousness and steering you away from sin. When you read the bible daily, that is Christ’s word and law that help you to stay on the right path. Both Christ and the Holy Spirit provide comfort and strength to you when you grow tired or wearied.
JESUS CHRIST & THE SPIRIT They speak to you through other people, that you may be edified in the word of God. And the list goes on. All of these things, help us to remain righteous, though the world around us becomes more and more wicked. That is how we are able to grow during this spiritual drought.
CONCLUSION A final point I would like to make. Recall, when I said that groundwater is invisible to the eye but it is still there. The seeds planted in the ground are not visible but they are still there. God’s people are hidden in this earth and scattered throughout. The world cannot see who the true children of God are nor can they see the works that Christ and the Holy Spirit are doing for us to prepare us for salvation. Not yet.
CONCLUSION You see we are liken to crops that are in the ground, reaping all the wonderful benefits of groundwater. But as crops we have not fully matured yet. We are not ready to be harvested. However, once the former and latter rain come in the last days, this will yield quick growth in God’s crops (children) and we will spring forth from the earth for the entire world to see. We will no longer be hidden. But until then, we remain hidden in the earth, taking in the groundwater of Spirit and our Savior, safely tucked away as the season of drought presses on. Amen