Two Oceans Meet

# Where Two Oceans Meet

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." - 2 Corinthians 5:17

"Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?" - 2 Corinthians 6:14

Have you ever seen a place called "where two oceans meet"? It is named this way because two different bodies of water can never truly mix. This location is found in a gulf in Alaska – a state in the United States. It has become quite famous since the discovery of these two unusual waters. You can see the ocean here form two distinct colors, like a dividing line that stretches on.

In reality, this is not where two oceans actually meet, but rather where water from melting glaciers flows into the ocean and encounters the waters of the Alaska gulf.

Scientists tell us that this is merely a phenomenon caused by sediment and complex ocean currents. Originating from glacial rivers carrying earth and sediment flowing into this gulf region, they meet complex countercurrents that prevent the two waters from ever mixing. Sediment is material that can be transported by flowing liquids and eventually accumulates as a layer on the surface or bottom of a water-containing area such as: seas, lakes, rivers, streams, and so forth. The process of sedimentation is an accumulation and formation of suspended particles to create sediment layers.

The phenomenon of "sedimentation" at this place where "two oceans meet" reminds me of what God's Word teaches – that we live in the world but cannot compromise with it: "No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon" (Matthew 6:24);

"Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?" (2 Corinthians 6:14).

As God's people, we too are in a process of "sedimentation" – "where two oceans meet" – a process of spiritual maturity, learning, practicing, and accumulating good things in Christ. Here are 7 things that surely we all need to accumulate, which I will call the "7 S's of Sedimentation."

- First is **Spiritual Knowledge of God** – we need to know who He is, what He does, why… "In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him" (1 John 4:9)

- Second is **Spiritual Illumination through God's Word** – we need to seek wisdom through His Word, because "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path" (Psalm 119:105)

- Third is **Spiritual Vigilance** – we must commune with God in prayer constantly – "pray without ceasing" (1 Thessalonians 5:17); "He will regard the prayer of the destitute, and will not despise their prayer" (Psalm 102:17).

- Fourth is **Spiritual Practice of God's Word** – if we do not practice and follow God's Word, our faith cannot grow, as the apostle James says, "What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him?" (James 2:14)

- Fifth is **Spiritual Forgiveness** of all people so that we may be united with one another, "Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you" (Ephesians 4:32)

- Sixth is **Spiritual Love** for all people – "He who does not love does not know God, for God is love" (1 John 4:8); "with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love" (Ephesians 4:2)

- Seventh is **Spiritual Proclamation** – proclaiming the Gospel of Christ's salvation everywhere to all people – "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you..." (Matthew 28:19-20a).

We are God's children, "...a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new" (2 Corinthians 5:17); therefore we cannot compromise with the world, but must stay far away from the sinful deeds of the world – "they may meet, but they cannot mix." Though our bodies live in this world, our spirits must be increasingly holy, separated from all the impurities of the world! We must accumulate these 7 things to help us avoid sin and stay away from the power of darkness in this age. May the Lord grant us strength to accumulate these 7 things, so that our lives may glorify His name and be a light to the world; through this, those outside may see how we are different and want to seek His power and love to receive the blessing of eternal life in Him! Amen!

In Christ is a person made new, The old self has passed and is gone, Only knowing Him as the Truth, With all my heart, love Him more and more! Righteousness and evil cannot unite, Light shines forth as darkness retreats, No fellowship, not even a little, Steadfast faith in the Lord forever!

Ngoc-Huynh-Bich

Note: "No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon." - Matthew 6:24 "No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth." - Luke 16:13 "Does a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh." - James 3:12 "...that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height..." - Ephesians 3:18 "Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him..." - 2 Thessalonians 2:1

http://www.lateet.com/gulf-alaska-two-oceans-meet-not-mix/

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