Polluted Rivers
Polluted Rivers
"And the word of the Lord came to me saying, 'What do you see, Jeremiah?' And I said, 'I see a rod of an almond tree.' " (Jeremiah 1.11)
I note with sadness the infection of more and more of our New Zealand rivers by an alien growth called "Didymo". Locals call it "river snot", because it appears as a disgusting, viscous weed which swiftly covers river beds. According to Biosecurity New Zealand the invasion (Didymo came from overseas) was first detected in October 2004 in two rivers in Southland. By September 2005 five more rivers were contaminated as this pest moves north. Biosecurity NZ says that eradication of Didymo is "unlikely". Officials are concerned that this is going to sabotage New Zealand's "clean green" image overseas, possibly destroy world-famous trout fisheries, and jeoparise hydroelectric power generation.
A few years ago I dreamt I was speaking to a significant prophetic figure visiting New Zealand from the USA. I talked to him with my back to a beautiful river full of sparkling, pure water. I asked this prophet when he was going to visit here. He answered me staring fixedly at the river, "Why would I want to do that?" He was clearly saying that the Church in New Zealand should value what God has given us, over and above what He has given other nations.
At this time I'm sure we have failed to do this well enough, and as a result God is warning us through our natural rivers that our spirutal rivers are polluted with alien growth.
Obviously I'm not saying that the NZ Church should shut out overseas ministries and prevent them visiting and sharing in God's work here. Nor am I saying that NZ Christians should stay at home all the time. All over the world there really is only "one Body and one Spirit...one hope...one Lord, one faith, one baptism." (Ephesians 4.4-6)
But just as individual Believers have unique personalities and specific paths of obedience, so too does the Church in particular nations. This integrity of the Holy Spirit must be treasured, guarded and served with our utmost passion. Anthing less really dishonours the King and Head of the Church, Jesus.
Sadly, I believe it is probably too late to clean up our spiritual rivers here in New Zealand. Too many overseas ministries have been invited and have travelled here outside the Will of God and for the wrong reasons and motives. Promoting yourself, your ministry, your church, your denomination is not a good enough reason to issue or accept an invitation. The doing of His Will must be unassailably ultimate. Anthing less risks spiritual contamination with disastrous consequences...loss of purity, loss of fruitfulness, loss of power.
And yet God may yet work a miracle for us, especially if He sees a renewed determination on our part to esteeem and protect His Presence, rather than ourselves and our agendas!
"And Elisha went out to the spring of water, and threw salt in it and said, 'Thus says the Lord, I have purifed these waters.' " (2 Kings 2.21)
