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This Is Water

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In the book of Jonah the author alludes to two distinct Psalms: Psalm 18, and Psalm 42. He prays: For You cast me into the deep, into the heart of the seas, and the floods surrounded me; all Your waves and Your billows passed over me. (Jonah 2:3) Psalm 42:7 states:[Roaring] deep calls to [roaring] deep at the thunder of Your waterspouts; all Your breakers and Your rolling waves have gone over me. What’s ironic about Jonah’s usage of this psalm is Psalm 42:1-2 states: As the deer pants for the water brooks, So pants my soul for You, O God. 2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God? (NKJV) Why is that ironic? Jonah is surrounded by water but thirsts for God.

In 2005, David Foster Wallace addressed the graduating class at Kenyon College with a speech that became a best selling book. His commencement speech titled,“This Is Water” began with the following parable: There are these two young fish swimming along, and they happen to meet an older fish swimming the other way, who nods at them and says, “Morning, boys. How’s the water?” And the two young fish swim on for a bit, and then eventually one of them looks over at the other and goes, “What is water?”

How could the reality, and conscious awareness of an encounter with God in Jonah’s past, exceed the realities of the horror of being swallowed by a great fish, sinking to the depths of the ocean, and facing certain death? How do you become so conscious of God that you compare Him to that which could kill you? You pray that you become conscious of your unconsciousness. Have you ever been fishing and observed how the fish “pants,” or “thirsts” for water? Water is the air it breathes. Have you ever been trapped under water, your mind screaming to breathe air?

David Foster Wallace nearing the end of his commencement speech surmised: The capital-T Truth is about life BEFORE death. It is about the real value of a real education, which has almost nothing to do with knowledge, and everything to do with simple awareness; awareness of what is so real and essential, so hidden in plain sight all around us, all the time, that we have to keep reminding ourselves over and over: This is water. This is water.

When I was a child there were two places I could count on experiencing God: lying down on the floor of the woods in the leaves, and sitting on a sand dune watching the ocean waves crash to the shore. What was the core ingredient? Peace, and an awareness that I was not alone. Even though I had not been born-again spiritually I knew there was more to life than the air I breathed. He was in the air, and in the water. In fact, HE IS. All that is required is a child-like anticipation. You just have to be still enough to know it. Aware of the “capital-T Truth.” The fish in David Foster Wallace’s parable had lost the wonder of being suspended in a substance they were never conscious of. You and I are suspended in the Presence of the God Who suspends the universe in His Hand. We are the fish. Don’t be suspended by the water but be suspended by the Presence of God. Want His Reality like a fish panting for water, or a drowning human screaming for air.

During this season of Elul very few of the people swimming around you have taken the time to be still and listen. How many times have you missed your time with God? How many times have you missed walking with Him through your garden and His? Jonah was surrounded by water but it was salty, undrinkable water. Is the missing ingredient in your quest for thirsting for more of God more salt in life?

Judging Angels?!

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In the book, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, C.S. Lewis introduces four children from England: Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy Pevensie – who travel through a mystical wardrobe to discover the land of Narnia. In that enchanted land they are introduced to the Lion, Aslan and Narnia’s nemesis, the White Witch. Eventually a battle ensues between the children, and the White Witch. But Aslan prevails, sacrificially laying down his life as a ransom for Edmund. From the sacrificial stone table Aslan is raised from the dead emerging to end the White Witch’s reign, and restoring the sons of Adam and daughters of Eve to their rightful place as co-regents of Narnia. One writer stated: After a few days, the Pevensies were taken to Cair Paravel to be crowned as the Kings and Queens of Narnia. Peter was called High King Peter the Magnificent, Susan was called Queen Susan the Gentle, Edmund was called King Edmund the Just, and Lucy was called Queen Lucy the Valiant.

Yet Lewis’ fictional work for children, has its root in Biblical truth. His words direct us prophetically to look beyond the temporal booths of Tabernacles to the Reign of Jesus. To a time when all things which were stolen from mankind will be restored. What is our destiny?

1 Corinthians 6:2-3 Do you not know that the saints (the believers) will [one day] judge and govern the world? And if the world [itself] is to be judged and ruled by you, are you unworthy and incompetent to try [such petty matters] of the smallest courts of justice?3 Do you not know also that we [Christians] are to judge the [very] angels and pronounce opinion between right and wrong [for them]? How much more then [as to] matters pertaining to this world and of this life only! AMPC

Revelation 20:6 Blessed (happy, to be envied) and holy (spiritually whole, of unimpaired innocence and proved virtue) is the person who takes part (shares) in the first resurrection! Over them the second death exerts no power or authority, but they shall be ministers of God and of Christ (the Messiah), and they shall rule along with Him a thousand years. AMPC

Matthew 24:44-47 You also must be ready therefore, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not expect Him.45 Who then is the faithful, thoughtful, and wise servant, whom his master has put in charge of his household to give to the others the food and supplies at the proper time? 46 Blessed (happy, fortunate, and to be envied) is that servant whom, when his master comes, he will find so doing.47 I solemnly declare to you, he will set him over all his possessions.

Tabernacles reminds us Jesus is coming back to reign on the earth and when He does He will set His servants over ALL His possessions! (That includes earth) These Scriptures, along with other parables, infer believers will be given responsibility to co-reign with Jesus on earth. Until then, keep watch, and be faithful over what the Lord has placed in your hands. This includes family, marriage, co-workers, church family, neighbors, and all other areas of influence.