In The Promised Land

In The Promised Land…

It was a warm afternoon, during my tenth year, and we were down fishing on the river. There as nice breeze and we could smell the sweet fragrance of the nearby wild flowers. Then with a soft voice Grandfather said: The Promised Land has two seas, one is called the Kinneret or the Sea of Galilee. The Sea Of Galilee receives it’s water on its northern end from the inflow of the Jordan River. On its other end is its outflow. There it becomes the Jordan River again and flows southward down the Jordan Valley.

And the other sea?

The other sea is called the Sea of Salt, or the Sea of Death.

The Dead Sea, I responded.

Yes, he said. It’s called the Dead Sea because virtually nothing can live there. There’s no fish and no vegetation. It’s salt and minerals preventive growing.

I asked and where does The Dead Sea get it’s water from? Grandfather looked at me and said from the Jordan River and the Sea of Galilee.

So it’s the same water, then why is it dead?

The difference is that the Dead Sea only has one opening to the north where it receives water from the Jordan, but it has no outlet. The water only pours in…and becomes dead. But the water of the Galilee is alive, freshwater filled with fish. And yet the very same water flows between the two. So how can the same water produce life in one place and death in the other?

Because of the outlets I responded. That’s right, said Grandfather, but why? I don’t know, I was only guessing.

Grandfather continued on. The Sea of Galilee is always giving what it receives. It is always flowing. But the Dead Sea only receives and never gives. It is the same in life. The life that gives of what it receives, the life that blesses others, that life is the Sea of Galilee. It’s waters are always fresh. It’s always filled with life. But the life that only takes and doesn’t give, that life becomes dead and barren…and all with the same waters.

You see, said Grandfather, it’s not what you have in life, how much or how little, that, in the end, will matter. It’s what you do with what you have. If you only take, the waters become dead and your life becomes a sea of Death. But if you give, then your waters become alive and your life becomes…the Galilee.

One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. Proverbs 11:24

Live your days after the pattern of the Sea of Galilee, always receiving and always giving. Live to be a blessing in the flowing of His love.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed