Like gun ownership, what has all this got to do with a UTI or Lymphatic Filariasis? The whole system is quick to label us all these days. Maybe I own a gun because coyotes prey on my chickens! Maybe I don’t have enough natural Vitamin D and feel tired but not really depressed.
TIMES THAT TRY OUR SOULS
How many do you know today who fit the description in 2 Timothy 3:1-9?
This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3. Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4. Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5. Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. 6. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, 7. Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. 8. Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith. 9. But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was.
Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil (Ecc. 8:11).
The Lord has called us to a time when this world is determined to destroy the Lord and his work, and are in the process of casting (or trying to cast) away God’s cords (Psa. 2:1-4). We pray he will soon have them in derision and vex them in his sore displeasure soon (Psa. 2:5)! He gave the world to many evil rulers in times past, but then his purpose not only includes forming the heart of Christ in his children (Luke 6:40; Matt. 10:24-25) but also in putting his enemies under his feet (1 Cor. 15:24-26). We are thankful for his great wisdom and righteousness, as well as working all things together for good for those he calls to his purpose.
However, it is not encouraging to see how many are his enemies today, and often distressing to see who his real enemies are! As Solomon warned those who seek God’s wisdom, it means increased sorrow (Eccl. 1:18). We pray those of us who love him will fulfill all of his good pleasure, obey all of his commands (Matt. 28:20), and overcome in the fight against sin and Satan (Rev. 2:26-27).
WHAT MAKES THE NEWS?
Video of 2-racing-buses-in-coimbatore-goes-viral.
Na! You can’t be serious! No public servant would do such a thing!
Yes, some would and do. This is not such an unusual occurrence as you might think. When we go by car down the highways between villages, towns or cities, we often see the skeletal remains of busses that were not so successful at racing or “playing chicken.” How many times have I seen the half slice of metal bones on the side of a highway? With all the seats gone on one side, one has to understand there were at least that many dead, while those whose seats remained on the other half were at least injured if not killed.
And sometimes it’s the kids!
Scenes like these were always the reason we took the trains instead of busses.
Such as this is not exactly good for the health would you say?
Never leave the house without a prayer for God’s protection. Never assume you will return home without witnessing some near death experience. Never assume you can do what you purpose to do without the Father (James 4:13-15).
Let us infuse this idea into our minds and hearts, so that we are completely pleasing to our Master. And may He bless your day richly.
Emptied
Sad but true!
ELIXIR
The far reaching idea of an elixir may be seen by the many ways the word is used—elixir of life, fountain of life, panacea, cure-all, nostrum.
When ancient Chinese tribes found gunpowder for the first time, they obviously didn’t know what it was. Their journals and notes from that first discovery still exist, and the lead scientist called the power “an elixir of immortality” – which is pretty ironic considering it has led to more death than any other substance.
A metaphor is a figure of speech, which makes an implicit, implied or hidden comparison between two things that are unrelated but share some common characteristics. The link, 15 Famous Metaphors in the Bible, does not use the phrase water of life, but from other illustrations given there, one may identify it as a metaphor often used in Scripture.
There is such a comparison in John 7:37-39. “In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. 38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. 39 (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)”
A similar metaphor appears in John 4:7-15. There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink. 8 (For his disciples were gone away unto the city to buy meat.) 9 Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans. 10 Jesus answered and said unto her, 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. 11 The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water? 12 Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle? 13 Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: 14 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. 15 The woman saith unto him, Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw.
Matthew 5:6—Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
Revelation 7:15-17—Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. 16 They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. 17 For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.
FIGURATIVE USES:
Water of life
John 4:14
John 7:37-39
Revelation 21:6
Revelation 22:17
Water of affliction
2 Samuel 22:17-18
Psalms 69:1
Isaiah 30:20
Isaiah 43:2
Water of salvation
Isaiah 12:3
Isaiah 49:10
Isaiah 55:1
Ezekiel 36:25
John 4:10
John 7:38
Domestic love
Proverbs 5:15
SYMBOLICAL USES:
Proverbs 5:15
Isaiah 8:7
Revelation 8:11
Revelation 12:15
Revelation 16:4
Revelation 17:1
Revelation 17:15
Read deeply and consider the implications of the word elixir as it relates to the water of life in Scripture.
MULIEBRAL VIEWPOINT 