06-12-2022 - The Solution to Pollution

OPENING

You may have heard about the drinking water crisis in Flint, Michigan that was in the news several years ago. The Flint water crisis is a public health crisis that started in 2014 after the drinking water from the city of Flint was contaminated with lead and possibly Legionella bacteria.

More recently, water suppliers from across the country have been concerned with potential contamination from a group of chemicals called PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. Some of these PFAS chemicals have been determined to be carcinogenic. These PFAS chemicals have been used to make things like teflon, non-stick coatings, and fire-fighting foams. We now know that PFAS chemicals from fire-fighting foams has contaminated the groundwater in and around some of the military bases in our area.

All of this is concerning, because we all need access to safe, clean, drinking water. Water that is safe to drink is absolutely vital for our survival. In fact, we can only live about 3 days without water. So when our sources of water are polluted it is a major problem that needs to be addressed.

There is a saying that you might have heard before, “The solution to pollution is dilution.” In other words, just dilute the water down enough with clean water until the point the pollution is at low enough levels that it is not harmful. But that is faulty thinking. Because pollutants like PFAS are what are called forever chemicals. In other words, they never break down or degrade. As a result, they bio-accumulate in our bodies over time. So the solution to pollution is not dilution. There must be a remedy. The pollution must be stopped and the damage that has already been done must be corrected.

Believe it or not, water pollution is not a new problem. In fact, in the days of Elisha, the city of Jericho faced its own water crisis. This morning the message is titled, “The Solution to Pollution.”

SCRIPTURE

2 Kings 2:19–22 NKJV

19 Then the men of the city said to Elisha, “Please notice, the situation of this city is pleasant, as my lord sees; but the water is bad, and the ground barren.” 20 And he said, “Bring me a new bowl, and put salt in it.” So they brought it to him. 21 Then he went out to the source of the water, and cast in the salt there, and said, “Thus says the Lord: ‘I have healed this water; from it there shall be no more death or barrenness.’ ” 22 So the water remains healed to this day, according to the word of Elisha which he spoke.

MESSAGE

The Situation in the City

Look back at verse 19.

Everything seemed pleasant.

But there was a problem.

The water was polluted, and

The polluted water caused the ground to be barren.

Everything can seem ok from the outside, but the outside does not always reveal what is on the inside.

When the source is polluted, there will be death and barrenness.

Jericho was cursed by God during the days of Joshua because of their pagan worship and the world is cursed today because of sin.

The Selection of a Vessel

Elisha asked for a new bowl.

Why would Elisha ask for a new bowl?

Because if he had used a bowl that had previously held the polluted water, it would have been contaminated.

It had to be a new bowl that had never been contaminated by the pollution.

The only solution to the sin problem of this world was a human vessel that had never been contaminated by the pollution of sin.

And there is only one person who can fit the requirement: Jesus Christ!

The ultimate solution to the pollution of sin is the precious blood of Jesus Christ.

One drop of His blood is enough to heal the waters of our soul and set us free from the decay and death of sin.

And by placing our faith in the finished work of Christ on the cross, we become heirs and joint heirs with Him.

He changes us from a vessel of dishonor to a vessel of honor.

And He places within us His Spirit to be His sons and daughters, His ambassadors, on the earth.

We are to be new wineskins.

The Solution to the Pollution

Elisha took the new bowl and put salt it in.

Then he took the bowl of salt and threw it into the source of the water.

And he prophesied that there would be no more death or barrenness.

For Elisha and the City of Jericho, the solution to the pollution was sodium chloride, or salt.

Jesus said that His followers are the salt of the earth.

Matthew 5:13 NKJV

13 “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.

So what does it mean that we are the salt of the earth?

Well first, salt is significant for several reasons:

Salt, in biblical times, was very valuable.

Salt gives flavor.

Salt is a preservative.

Salt is a disinfectant.

Jesus calling His followers the salt of the earth is significant for several reasons:

We are very valuable to the Kingdom of God.

We should bring Christian flavor into the world.

We are to be a preserving force against the rot and decay of sin.

We are to help bring healing to those who are hurting.

In essence, us being the salt of the earth means that we are to deliberately seek to influence others by showing them the unconditional love of Jesus Christ.

We do this by demonstrating authentic Christian love.

We do this by sharing the Word of God.

We do this by letting the light of Jesus Christ shine through us.

CLOSING

I read a news headline yesterday that caught my attention. The headline stated, “This traffic stop between a black man and a white State Trooper began with fear. It ended with a surprising act of kindness.” This picture was taken during this traffic stop in North Carolina. The traffic stop took place on March 28 of this year. A woman by the name of Ashlye Wilkerson was driving the vehicle with her father, Tony Geddis, in the passenger seat. State Trooper Jared Doty was on patrol that day. Trooper Doty observed Ashlye speeding and initiated a traffic stop. Ashlye was nervous about being pulled over. But her dad Tony tried to keep her calm. Trooper Doty approached the vehicle on the passenger’s side and Tony let down his window. He asked for Ashlye’s license and registration. Tony was weak from recent chemotherapy treatments and could barely speak above a whisper, but he spoke up for his daughter. He said, “That’s my baby girl. She’s driving me home from a chemo treatment at the cancer center at Duke.” Trooper Doty just nodded and returned to his patrol car to run her information. But Trooper Doty was not just running her information, he was also reviewing his own life. Trooper Doty was trained to pick up on body language. He noticed that Tony was slouched in the seat and was in obvious pain. He also noticed how quick Tony was to speak up on behalf of his daughter. Trooper Doty was the father of a 12-year old girl himself and thought how he would have done the same thing for his daughter. But Trooper Doty shared another connection with Tony. He noticed Tony had a pouch attached to his side. Trooper Doty had once been diagnosed with ulcerative colitis and had to undergo surgery to remove a portion of his colon. He too, had to wear a pouch attached to his stomach for treatment. Trooper Doty’s doctors told him that his condition would have likely progressed to cancer if he had not recieved the treatment. When Trooper Doty was in the hospital he made a vow. He said, “If I could do something to touch one person, or help somebody get through their illness, I would do it.” Trooper Doty thought of that vow as he sat in his patrol car trying to decide what to do next. Trooper Doty closed his ticket book and walked back to the vehicle and turned to Tony. He said, “Sir, do you mind if I ask what kind of cancer you have?” Tony said, “No, I don’t mind. I have colon cancer.” Then Trooper Doty took a deep breath and looked at Tony and said, “Can I pray for you?” Tony responded, “Of course. I absolutely believe in prayer.” The picture that you see was taken by Tony’s daughter Ashlye while Trooper Doty prayed for her father. After Tooper Doty finished praying he put the piece of paper and another item in Tony’s hand and said, “I just want you to know that you have someone else praying for you on your journey.” The piece of paper that you see in the picture was a warning, not a ticket. The other item was a small silver cross. Two months later, on May 22, Tony died from colon cancer. But the actions of Trooper Doty that day had an impact on Ashlye and Tony and their family. And it has touched thousands through social media and news stories. Ashlye still keeps the small silver cross as a reminder of her father and their encounter with Trooper Doty that day.

The solution to pollution is not dilution. The ultimate solution to pollution is the gospel of Jesus Christ. And by placing our faith in the finished work of Christ on the cross, we become a part of the Kingdom of God, and vessels of honor into which He can pour out His Spirit. And then we are to go out into the world and be the salt of the earth that Jesus described. God is on the move. Are you moving with Him?

ALTAR CALL