Longing For A Drink Of Water

A large container ship going under the Bridge of the Americas that joins North America and South America in the heart of Panama.  She is making her way to pass through the Panama Canal from West to East.  I greatly enjoy watching the ships and boats here in Panama the day between my flights from the jungle and tomorrow's to America.

71% of the Earth is covered by water.

That's a huge statistic!  But, as always, the details reveal the truths that the statistics rarely ever do.   Let me explain:

Only 1% of Earth's water resources is in a usable, drinkable form.  So, suddenly, things don't look nearly as cheerful, do they?  Think about this:

Turkey is the beginning point of 90% of the water that flows into the mighty Euphrates River.  It is also the watershed for 50% of the water flowing into the vast Tigris River.  Since 1975, Turkey has been building dams to control and collect the resources on these two rivers.  

This has reduced the supply of water flowing into Syria by 40%.  The water flowing into Iraq has been reduced by 80%. Now, add to this that the last 5 years have been the driest in the last 100.  It's a bleak picture already.

Finally, there is a third factor to consider:  Since 1980, Turkey's population has increased by 70%.  Egypt's population has grown by 80%,  Iran has swelled by 100%, doubling it's population since 1980!  But, perhaps the most astounding facts are Syria and Iraq who desperately depend upon the two rivers mentioned.  Syria's population has grown by 150% and Iraq has skyrocketed by an incredible 337% since 1980.  

Does this matter to you?  Does it not cause your heart to cry for the souls of these people groups suffering this unimaginable tragedy that is waiting to explode?  To think of growing up in a world like this is unimaginable.  But then, after this life, the vast majorities of every one of these souls will spend eternity without a single drop of water to be had. 

Islam provides a way of life, a community and a sense of "belonging" for 1.2 to 1.5 billion Muslims on planet Earth.  It provides a culture that frames their desire to be a people like all of us long for in this world.  And, for many of the nations, it's provided control over vast amounts of wealth primarily from the source of petroleum found in the Middle East.  

But the one thing it has never provided is a true, satisfying drink of spiritual water.  They live all around the area referred to by three religions as the "Holy Land".  Yet, they have never sat beside Jacob's Well outside of old Samaria and they've never known what could be theirs   If only they could drink of the Water of Life!

A large number of the people in some of those nations look to Abraham as their father just like the Hebrew people.  But, the cruse of water he gave their forefather Ishmael and his Egyptian mother ran out almost 4,500 years ago.  They've managed to survive, but they've never known real thirst-quenching salvation in the last 1,300 years.  I only wish their mother, Hagar, would have cried out to God for spiritual help instead of just the carnal, necessary natural water that she sought.  Her descendants today suffer because of that more important drought.

Would you pray for the Muslim peoples of the world today?  Indonesia, Pakistan and India have the three largest populations of Muslims in the world and they are not even in the Middle East!   

Do you have any in your city, town or neighborhood?  Have you ever spoken to them about the One Who gives the Water of Life freely to all who will come?  You have so much Water. Can you spare a drink for another thirsty soul in desperate need?  

I'm reminded of the command in the Parable of the Good Samaritan:  "Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee."   I'm sure that the God Who created the peoples now under Islam will keep His promise.  

May God move us to pray and to act to see that Water, with a capital "W", flows into the driest places on earth.