The Saga of Desert Pete
A note Found in the Dessert beside an old rusty pump-
"Dear Friend,
This pump is all right as of June 1932. I put
a new sucker washer in it and it should last for
at least five years. But the washer dries out
and the pump has to be primed. So under the
white rock to the north I’ve buried a bottle of
water, out of the sun and corked up.
There’s enough water in the bottle to prime
the pump, but not if you take a drink first.
Pour about one-fourth of the water and let it
soak the leather washer. Then pour in the rest
medium fast and pump like crazy. You’ll get
water.
This well has never run dry. Have some faith.
Then, when you’ve pumped all the water you
need, fill the bottle and put it back where
you found it for the next feller who travels
this path.
"Desert Pete"
A friend sent me this and told me the note was found in the desert years ago near an old rusty pump. I find it a good example of what faith is - a weary thirsty traveler is cautioned not to drink the water that was left to him (water that might save his life) but instead to act on faith and utilize it to prime the pump for much more later advantage and for those who follow.
That must have been a real dilemma for the dessert traveler and finder of that old pump and water jar. He must have asked himself - "Do I have faith and prime the pump or drink that small jar of water?"
We as Christians are like those weary travelers who came across Dessert Pete’s Note. We are placed on this earth by a Loving Merciful God who created us and cautioned us to prime the pump - to have a little faith in He who created us. We are left instructions just as Dessert Pete did for the finders of that old pump, our instructions are to be found in the Holy Bible. Where we are constantly admonished to prime the pump- Honor our heavenly Father, help our earthly brothers and sisters, feed the hungry and tend to those less fortunate than we are, and all the while following God’s rules and admonishments to evangelize,spread the word, and conduct ourselves in a good Christian moral manner.
Or do we just drink the water? Drinking deeply of the earthly waters - satiating our earthly desires ?
The way I see it there are several possibilities regarding those who came across old Desert Pete’s Pump.
1. They could totally ignore it and just move on.
2. They could, although warned not to, drink a little of the water, and then inadequately try and prime the pump with what is left hoping that Desert Pete was wrong and it will work.
3. They could have faith and use the water as directed for their own eventual advantage and those that would follow them.
The dilemma of life and especially its Christian alternatives are a lot like Dessert Pete’s Pump-
1. Many though hearing of Jesus Christ and his promises, fulfilled freely, by simply having a little sincere faith, but they will simply move on never really trying it. Many take that route. It seems so foolish doesn’t it ? So little faith and effort is needed to prove to them the benefits of a Christ filled life but they will not put forth that little effort in at least trying it and of course will because of that, never truly drink of the cool refreshing waters of Christianity.
If for no other reason you would think non Christians would at least notice the refreshing difference present amongst true Christians - the smiling faces and happy dispositions, and you would think that they might at least be wise enough to try it on the supposition that these people are happier than they are.
2. Another rather large group will have some faith but not enough. They will not do as directed and will instead drink some of the water that they were told to prime the pump with. Many Christians are like that- they half heartedly attend to God’s directions.
We might find them in Church on occasions - when it is convient and nothing else is happening on a sunday. Or praying when a severe problem assails them, but they ignore God’s direction to fully prime the pump. That is to sincerely honor him - faithfully keep holy the sabbath attending services faithfully and fellowshipping with other Christians while reading God’s instructions the Holy Bible and faithfully trying to live by it.
Way too many are in that group. I have no doubt some who are reading this now will find themselves in that group.
We are told in the Bible that the gates of heaven are narrow and that many who think that they will enter will be disappointed.
I always make it a point to ask the prisoners I work with if they believe they are going to heaven. This is a tough group and amongst them are murders, robbers, rapists etc. - even so I am sure there are some who will make it to heaven but the surprising thing is that all tell me that they will go to heaven and when asked why should St. Peter let you in, the answer is almost always the same - "I’m not really a bad guy."
I have bad news - no where in the Bible does it say that all good guys will go to heaven. In fact no where does it say that all those who follow the 10 commandments will make it to heaven. I do not know the clear parameters that we will be judged on - I have heard many opinions by pastors etc. but it clearly is a call that only God will make.
There are also clearly many in this second group that are hoping that God will be marking on a curve. Knowing that they are not really good Christians but hoping that they are doing enough to get by.
3. That leads us to the third and last group. The group that will follow directions, have faith. Prime the pump to the best of their abilities and be considerate of those that will follow. In a Christian sense this reminds me of those few in number hard working Christians who have really been working at their faith.
I don’t know of anyone who finds it easy to get up every sunday for services. Especially those like myself that find themselves rising early each of the other six days of the week. When God says honor me - I don’t believe he means when it is convient. We as Christians are supposed to be Christ like.....I don’t think it was ever convient for Christ to mount the Cross on our behalf. Nor do I think it was easy or convient for him to live a sinless life. Few of us will ever be asked to make those sacrifices for our faith. But how well are we doing regarding the sacrifices that we are asked to make ?
This life of ours is a fleeting one. If one really believes in God and the hereafter, the few years we are to live here on earth are but a tiny drop in the bucket when we regard eternity and the eons of time that it represents.
I beseech you all ...... Prime the pump with all you have.
My blessings upon you all and I pray the Holy Spirit fill and assist us all in every way possible to become better Christians as each day goes by-
† Yours in Christ †
Dennis C.
Christian Fellowship
Cocoa Beach, Florida
