As I meditated in the morning, I noticed a duck floating peacefully on the pond a few feet away.

Why? Because the duck was surrounded by the environment it was made for: water.

We were created to be surrounded the Spirit of God Almighty!

My thoughts turned to water as symbolic of this Spirit of God Almighty. If we and our civilization want peace, we must surround ourselves with the Spirit of God Almighty.

What is this Spirit like?

We find this Spirit in Genesis Chapter One, bringing order and peace out of chaotic seas. We find this Spirit guiding the Creation to be good—to be very good. (Genesis 1:1-31).

We find this Spirit in the Gospel of John. This Spirit is an advocate who is with us forever, helping us (John 14:16). This Advocate, whom the Father sends in the name of Jesus, reminds us of everything Jesus says to us.

By reminding us what Jesus says so that we can put his words into practice, this Spirit guides us how to make good lives and good civilizations that produce love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, and self-control. (Galatians 5:22-23).

Being guided by this Spirit does not mean that we will not face problems. Jesus was “full of the Holy Spirit” when he was led by the Spirit into the Wilderness where he faced trials and temptations for 40 days. (Matthew 4:1-13; Luke 4:1-13).

How did Jesus overcome these trials and temptations?  By quoting Scriptures and applying them wisely. By refusing to seek the Power of Money, the Power of Religion, or the Power of the Kingdoms of this World.

Having experienced this Way to overcome trials and temptations during his own life on earth, Jesus assured us that if we build the houses of our lives and civilizations by putting his words into practice—by following the Way of Jesus—we will prevail despite the heavy rains, strong winds, and flooding streams that beat upon us. (Matthew 7:24-27).

But take care.

My thoughts turned to ducks that are out of water. To people and civilizations that are not guided by this Spirit—that do not put the words of Jesus into practice.

Such people and civilizations behave like ducks out of water.

Instead of gliding gracefully through the water, they waddle clumsily across the grass. They waddle because of troubles and persecutions, the worries and pleasures of this life, and the deceitfulness of wealth. (Matthew 13:21-22; Luke 8:13-14).

What turns us into ducks out of water?

The absence of the Spirit in our lives and civilizations.

This failure to be guided by the Spirit of God Almighty—this failure to put the words of Jesus into practice—means that our lives and civilizations will NOT produce love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, and self-control.

Moreover, lives and civilizations that do NOT produce love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, and self-control will fall with a mighty crash, when the inevitable troubles of life and history break upon us like heavy rains, strong winds, and flooding streams.

THINGS TO THINK ABOUT

Do you surround your life and civilization with the Spirit of God Almighty? Why? How?

Do you put the words of Jesus into practice in your life and civilization? Why? How?

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Please read my blogs “How Do We Build a Civilization That Is Good—That Is Very Good?” and “Jesus Climbs the Temple Mount”.