Just last week, news about the leaking of radioactive contaminated water from Fukuoka’s nuclear plant made a buzz. Despite the serious concerns of people of neighboring countries including Korea, particularly the fishing industry, Japan’s government authorized the release of contamination from Fukuoka on the 24th afternoon. Tokyo’s electric company opened an underwater tunnel 10m deep that let out approximately 200 tons of the contaminated water which spread around 1 km in radius in Fukushima. As of now, 1.34 million tons of contamination are still in the plant’s reserve, of which they plan on releasing in batches over the next 30 years. Japanese government called this “scientifically harmless.” Experts agree with this assessment and say that if Japan follows through its plan, neither Korea nor other countries nearby should have any concerns. But was this enough to calm the nerves? I sincerely hope that the ocean waters will maximize its power and purify the contamination.

   Water, as you know, is source of life. Biological life, including humans, cannot survive without it. Our bodies, anywhere from 60 to 70 percent  (the brain 75, the heart, 86, muscles 75, arteries 94, and even skeletons 22), are made of water. We feel intense dehydration when the body lacks even 1~2% of water. When that number reaches 5% we fall into a coma. At 10%, the heart is likely to shut down. At 20%, it becomes mortal. Lack of water causes poor circulation in the body, which in turn causes delayed removal of excess minerals and fatigue. Humans cannot survive without water. When you think of it, we were all born in a water bubble in our mothers’ wombs. Even after birth, an average human consumes about 6,500 gallons of water in a lifetime. The water we consume dissolves nutrients and delivers them to every part of our bodies, sustaining life. Water is truly the body’s life support. It is essential for life.

   All the while, man experiences a special thirst in life. Nothing in the world can satiate it. 

Schopenhauer said, “Money is like salt water—the more you drink it, the thirstier you become.” Money does not bring happiness. Having it only makes you crave more of it. Only Jesus is able to satisfy the thirst of our souls. He said to one Samaritan woman, “whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life (John 4:14 NIV).” You see, Jesus alone is our true water for our souls. May you come forth to him, who said, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink!” and find your everlasting solution for your thirst.

   In Ezekiel 47, you read about a stream of water that flows from below the temple gate. That water is said to be ankle-deep at first, then up to the knee, then to the waist. A small stream turning into a river. And wherever that water flows, healing occurs. Even the dead sea water is purified! I pray for the miracle of dead waters cured to life. May this church’s members become such source of living water of Jesus. So that wherever their blessed water flows, testimonies of healing and restorations would erupt! I pray that the upcoming New Life Festival would be such an occasion where the Spirit’s mighty work is displayed and thirsty souls will be satisfied and revival would erupt.