Blooms in the desert

Because of his great love for us, God…made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions (Ephesians 2:4-5).

A desert valley in southern California is hot, barren, and desolate. Only the hardiest Native Americans had lived there—the Spaniards passed it by, and the state’s early growth had hardly touched it. The only sizable body of water was the Salton Sea, and it is as useless as the name would suggest. Then, around the year 1900, some promoters got an idea. They knew that the valley would bloom if water could be brought into it. So they gave it a new name, "Imperial", to attract potential farmers. And in 1901 they brought the first irrigation into the valley. Now, with one of the longest growing seasons in the United States—more than 300 days—and over a million acres irrigated, Imperial Valley produces cotton, dates, grains and dairy products, and is one of the most important sources of winter fruits and vegetables for the northern United States. All this productivity from a barren land—who could have anticipated it? Only a few wise developers.

The story of Imperial Valley is, in many ways, our story. By nature, we are barren and desolate, just as that hot desert valley was. When we were newly born, we were already dead inside—dead spiritually. We did not enter this world with a love of God inside us, and without the Giver of Life, we were dead—dead in our transgressions.

But God looked at us with the eyes of a developer. He saw potential in the valley of death that characterized our lives; He saw that, with the Water of Life, He could turn our desert into a lush, life-nurturing valley. So God sent His Son to bring life into we who were lifeless; Jesus was the irrigating stream that brought hope for the future. Jesus said, whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life (John 4:14).

When Jesus irrigates us with the Water of Life, our lives are completely transformed. Instead of being dead inside, our souls glow with vibrant life. Instead of sucking the joy out of the lives of those surrounding us through our selfishness and negativity, we bring joy and growth to others by our willingness to give and our positive, life-affirming attitude! Jesus said, I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full (John 10:10). Our Lord can take even the most barren life and make it a rich source of blessings for others.