Priceless Heritage In Lake Symbolises Water Of Life

Taupo Times, Volume XIV, Issue 39, 20 May 1965, Page 6

Priceless Heritage In Lake Symbolises Water Of Life

One cannot help but feel that water is the life of Taupo, says the Rev. G. T. Beilby in this Voiee of the Churches. We have a priceless heritage in our lake which attracts so many people in holiday mood. Too many New Zealand iakes have passed into the second stage of degeneration far too soon and have lost the charm which once drew people to them. Anything which will preserve our own body of water deserves our fullest support. The far-seeing "green belt" project of our county council is a move in the right direction. We are fortunate to have water to spare. It is not so every where. Some of the world's historic treasures have been lost through Egypt's need to augment its supply by damming the Nile. One cause of the deep

cleavage between Israel and the Arab States has been the quarrel over the use of the waters of the river Jordan. But this is merely a modern expression of an age-old differenoe. You can hardly open a page of the Qld Testament without realising that God's people were set to live right in the heart of one of the world's trouble spots. Indeed, we sometimes wonder why God could not have found them a dwellingplaee where life was easier. Of course He could have done so. But that is not God's way. His people had to work out their destiny in the face of constant threats to their very exist-

ence. Only so could they grow to true maturity. We can take heart from this. When life is rough, we must learn not to think that God's hand is against us. Many men of the truest faith have found God most real in the very heart of the storm. We should turn it round the other way as well. When ail goes easily, we should walk warily lest we find ourselves walking away from God. In Jeremiah's day there were many who sought, the easy way of an alliance with Egypt, but the prophet's call was to trust God in the darkness. God responds when we feel our need of Him. He has the water of life. He gives it only to those who know their need. "If any man thirst" said Jesus, "let him come unto me and drink."