Low Water

Clark’s Fork River, in Montana, is fed by snow melt. At the end of summer 2003, the amount of water in the river was drastically low because of lack of snow in the Wyoming mountains. Rocks showed in the riverbed and around them green algae grew. Any debris flowing down the river got caught around the rocks. Tree limbs and trash lay along the riverbank from when the water was higher. The river, although still functioning, had lost its lovely clean look. It was yucky.

In succeeding winters, plenty of snow fell in the Wyoming mountains to melt and then flush the trash on down the river. Clark’s Fork River returned to its original look—clean and rapidly flowing.

Our life accumulates trash, too, when we are low on the “water of God’s Word.” Without constant washing by reading, studying and applying God’s Word, the world’s debris will cling to us. We are yucky when rebellion, unforgiveness, rudeness, pride, worry, or anger hangs around.

The good news is we don’t have to wait for a snow melt to wash away any clinging debris. When we choose to repent—restoration follows.

“just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.” Ephesians 5:25b-27 (NIV)

Helen L. Hoover