Many of us started out 2014 with a lot of optimism and promise, we made resolutions and statements of faith that we hoped we could keep. In some cases there were resolutions made that were in some ways unrealistic but sounded good none the less. Some of said we would work less, some said we would eat less, some said they would trust God with a new found zeal. Now that we’re at the 52nd and last Sunday of year, we must admit that while we thought it, some of our hopes have been met with bitter water. There has been situations that were out of our control and then there were some situations that we created, but never the less it became a bitter pill to swallow.
Some of us even said that this year we were not going to overspend at Christmas time and truly focus on the reason for the season but found ourselves buying more because it was a sale we just couldn’t pass up. When the credit card statements come in January that’s going to be some bitter water, particularly when you don’t have the means to pay for what you said you wasn’t going to buy. So there are some here today that are saying well I didn’t overspend and I didn’t overbuy, but yet maybe that wasn’t your bitter water, but maybe your significant other just didn’t act right this year. All the things that you hoped would happen this year, didn’t and you are left now at the crossroads of life trying to figure out just which way to go, that’s some bitter water.
Well as we look at the year in review, there have been many things that have grabbed our attention this year. They are still looking for the Malaysian airplane that fell over the ocean and has never been found. We have seen that the President of the U.S. has faced some of the most drastic criticism of any President before him and while none of us know him personally, he is our brother and when they talk about him they are talking about us. It’s bitter water when the Republicans fight him not because of his policies but rather because of his color, that’s some bitter water. It’s a tragedy when we see that some have begun to attack the Obama children in order to get to the heart of the President, that’s some bitter water.
We see in our community there have been over 200 murders among our black boys and while the police say crime is down, we can’t tell when we view the news in 2014 and Memphis rates as the most dangerous city in America. Its bitter water when we hear that the jobless rate in TN is falling yet the folks we know and love are still out of work, not because they aren’t looking but rather because no one is looking at them. It’s bitter water when our black boys can’t seem to safely walk the streets without being stereotyped as thugs, criminals, gangsters, and dead-beat dads, it’s bitter water when our girls are finding themselves without hope because our boys are all locked up in jail, it’s bitter water.
It’s bitter water when it seems the rich are getting richer and the poorer are getting poorer, every poor person is not a bad person and not every rich person is a good person. Every black man is not a bad man just as every white man isn’t a good man. Every church goer ain’t a saint just as every non-church going person is a sinner. Every educated person ain’t smart just like every uneducated person ain’t dumb. Just as every person with eyes can’t see there are some people with legs but still can’t walk. There are some with tongues but still can’t talk, yet there are some with minds but still can’t think. There are indeed some with voices that will never be heard, yet there are some who simply don’t choose to speak. Bitter water is sometimes hard to understand yet we must keep pressing on.
Well we must look into the text today to see exactly the extent of this bitter water that is reference in our scripture. After Moses had led them across the Red Sea they found themselves in Marah. It is noted that they had sang songs of praise and were indeed thankful; they stumbled upon some bitter water. There are few things that amaze me about this story when I consider water,
• Water doesn’t spoil, it must be spoiled
• Water doesn’t sour, it must be soured
• Water is designed to refresh, not to destroy
Imagine they had traveled a great distance and yet when they finally found some water it was bitter. Isn’t it tough when you finally think you have life all figured out and then something happens to set you back. Mouth all dry and body all weak and yet you aren’t looking for fried chicken but rather just a drink of water will give you the strength you need to press on. They had traveled now for three days and found no water and when the found some they could not drink it as it was. But God always has a plan for His people. You must know that when you face your bitter water that God will has always prepared a way around your storm.
As we look back over 2014, God has been good to us, here we are few hundred folks who gather together each week to praise God and learn more about God and we’re still here. All of us have been faced with some bitter water this year but God has already left it on record that He will always provide us a ram. Don’t you remember when God told Abraham to take his son Isaac up on the mountain and sacrifice him? Well that was some bitter water for Abraham to drink for it was indeed was the son God had promised he and Sarah and now God is telling him to kill him? That’s some bitter water he was facing up there, but God knew he would do what He said and He never intended to take the son but rather to test Abraham’s obedience. God had already placed a ram in the bush for him to sacrifice and just as he was about to kill Isaac, God said “stop” and look over there, that’s your sacrifice.
That had to be some bitter water for David to lose his first son that was born to Bethesba out of an adulterous relationship. God wasn’t about to allow David to enjoy what he had gotten illegitimately. But that was still some bitter water for David to take when the son died and it is said that David wept for seven days and didn’t bathe or even really speak because of his bitter water. But I’m so glad that regardless of how the water tastes God can’t sweeten your bitter cup. We see here that Moses knew the people needed water so he went to God and the bible says God showed him a tree. All Moses had o do was cut down the tree and throw it in the water. We must remember that God knows all about your struggles and He will indeed guide till the day is done. There is not a friend like the lowly Jesus, no not one.
Three things you must know about dealing with your bitter water.
1. Trouble don’t last always
2. You can make it
3. Build your hope on things eternal
Well we have a symbol and when it appears you don’t see something that shines or illuminates but you don’t have to ask what it represents. As we come to the end and yet the beginning, I must ask you what is your symbol that you want to carry over into another year. What is it that you want to be known for and when people see you what should they know about you? Have you been drinking bitter water so long that your life is now filled with disease? Have you been drinking bitter water so long that you will drink it regardless of what it might do to you? What is your bitter water? Is it your money or is it your honey? Job had to drink from some bitter water. Joseph had to drink from some bitter water. Jesus even drank from some bitter water but I’m so glad that He did so that the tree He hung on could be thrown into my situation and purifies my life.
I know someone who can take your bitter water and make your water sweet if you recognize the tree in that of the Old Rugged Cross, the emblem of suffering and shame. Just as God saw that I was headed into a lake of bitter water, a lake of fire, and a place of utter damnation, He sent His son, who hung on a tree just so my bitter water could be made sweet.
I’ve had many tears and sorrows, many questions for tomorrow, many times I didn’t know right from wrong. But in my darkest hour He gave me strength and power and let me know that I was His own. Through it all, I’ve learned to trust in Jesus I’ve learned to trust in God, through it all, through it all, I’ve learned to depend upon His word.
Three things I need to tell you about your bitter water experience:
1. You need to know who can make your water sweet - Jesus
2. You need to know who can keep your water sweet - Jesus
3. You need to know Jesus is your living water
