The interior of the Brazilian northeast is a very dry and arid region making it very hard to prepare the land for plantation. For that reason, water reservoirs are built to retain some of the water from the scattered rains to enable the population’s survival conditions. Those able to capture the water ensure a brighter future.
Once visiting the Boqueirão Corps in the state of Paraiba, exactly in that dry region, we were invited to visit the Corps Sargent Major’s small farm of tomato plantation. He pumped the water from the reservoir up to the hilltop and then by gravity made it drain back to the reservoir zigzagging through his property. This allowed for his land to be irrigated and receive the needed humidity to grow tomatoes. Despite the dryness all around, there was life in the waters’ path and we were able to savour his beautiful and tasteful tomatoes.
One of the important consequences of the resurrection of Jesus Christ is that it prompted the coming of thoming of the Holy Spirit, Jesus said: “Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture had said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” This means that like the water irrie Holy Spirit. When Jesus lived on earth he lived amongst the disciples but not in them. The Holy Spirit however can be with them and inside of them. Christ’s resurrection power can now be inside of the believers.
Referring to the cgating the northeastern farm brought fertility to that dry land, the living water can bring life to the areas of our life that we allow it to irrigate. Thanks to the resurrection of Jesus and the coming of the Holy Spirit our being can be completely vivified, including the areas of our personal, academic and professional life.
- Which areas of your life have you allowed the living water to irrigate?
- Which areas of your life need to be vivified?
(Rivers of living water, John 7:38-39 / The Holy Spirit in us, John 14:17-18)
Commissioner Torben Eliason is the Territorial Commander of the Southern Africa Territory.