In 2014, I attended a conference of the Nigerian Association of Pharmacists and Pharmaceutical Scientists in the Americas in Orlando, Florida, and then visited Miami after the conference to enjoy the lakes. One main feature of Miami is the large number of lakes and canals. The lakes are man-made to beautify the environment and promote air quality. Some canals are channeled to run alongside the beautiful and spacious roads. Many residential estates are provided with lakes for fresh air and aesthetics. A clear notice at the lakes reads, no swimming, no fishing, no boating. Provisions are made for these activities somewhere else.
While in Miami, I watched the construction of a lake as heavy equipment was used to excavate and carry away sand and debris. The process contains some vital spiritual lessons that can improve my life and your own lives. Firstly, to collect and retain water, we must create a lower level. We must dig a trench. Spiritually speaking, this implies that you must bring yourself low. You must humble yourself in order to receive from God. Just as hills cannot retain water, you cannot receive anything from God if you are full of yourself. James 4:6 says, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
Secondly, just as machines are used to dig and remove sand in order to create a lake, so also must we clear our hearts of injurious ideas, philosophies, and prejudices in order to gainfully receive the Word of God. Dishes must be emptied to receive much water. Similarly, you must not allow the enemy to fill up the dish of your mind with the junk of worldly cares and obsessions. The Bible reveals that Isaac once inherited some wells dug by his father Abraham, but some Philistines, who were envious of Isaac because of God’s blessings on him, filled the wells with sand. Therefore, Isaac had to move to Gerar, where he dug a new well and found spring water. Genesis 26:15-18.
Thirdly, the notice at the Miami lakes, “no swimming, no fishing, no boating”. The reason is because if allowed, these activities would disturb the serenity and beauty of the lakes and introduce some environmental hazards. In the spiritual sense, allowing hazardous elements like hatred, envy, bitterness, malice, fear, falsehood, and dishonesty can affect the tranquility of the mind. Such a mind cannot receive or retain to the Word of God. Also, the lakes were of various sizes and shapes. The larger the surface area and depth, the more water it can contain and therefore more fresh air and the more aesthetics with a panoramic view. It is the same in the spiritual. When God wanted to bless a certain needy woman with financial resources, Elisha told her, go, borrow empty vessels abroad of all your neighbours, even empty vessels, borrow not a few. God caused all the empty vessels to be filled with oil, which the woman sold to pay her creditors and cater for her family. 2nd Kings chapter 4.
We too must present ourselves as large empty vessels to be filled with the Holy Spirit of God. Lastly, water symbolizes the Word of God, which gives life. Ephesians 5:25-26 says, “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church and gave himself for it, that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the Word.” God’s Word is the water that cleanses our hearts from impure thoughts and unhealthy emotions. Jesus emphasised this cleansing power of the Word when he told the disciples in John 15:3, Now you are clean through the Word which I have spoken unto you.
