His Water

These people are springs without water, mists driven by a whirlwind. The gloom of darkness has been reserved for them. - 2 Peter 2:17

Some places in Africa (okay, about the northern 40% of the continent) are very hot and dry. I've had many opportunities over the past 15 to 20 years to taste that climate as I engaged in various ministry ventures. Most people are aware that when traveling in that part of Africa it is absolutely essential that you have plenty of water and remain hydrated. You perspire and it immediately evaporates. Of course, this is true of any dry, arid climate and a person must be careful or risk physical harm.

Many parts of the world are "spiritually" dry as well and the people who dwell in these places need "living" water. How tragic would it be for a "thirsty" person to come, in response to the call of a God who seeks, only to receive a polluted or corrupted message? One can certainly understand why God would treat the bearer of such a message harshly.

People thirst. Let us be certain to give them His water, not ours. Anything less is just a mirage.

To underestimate one's thirst, to pass a given landmark to the right or left, to find a dry spring where one looked for running water - there is no help for any of these things. - Mary Austin