DESERT BEETLE!

 ‘Desert beetle’ photo by James Anderson is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA.    

The desert beetle pictured above goes to a lot of trouble to get a drink of water!

It lives in the Namib desert of Africa where water is extremely rare.  However, because of the conditions off the coast of this desert, an ocean fog appears every morning even when rainfall is absent over long periods of time.  This beetle STANDS ON ITS HEAD during this fog.  Scientists call it ‘fog basking’! Bumps on its back attract water droplets from the fog.  AND because it is standing on its head, these droplets make their way down the body              of the beetle and into its mouth!!

Have you ever heard of ‘biomimicry’, the design and production of materials, structures, and systems that are modeled on biological entities and processes?  New Oxford American Dictionary.  In an article on the Chemistry World website entitled, ‘Catching water with imitation beetle bumps’, inspired by this desert beetle, scientists have devised a new method for creating micropatterned superhydrophobic surfaces that efficiently harvest fog!  Water is scarce.  We need all the water we can find!!!  Click on the link below if you want to read the article. 

 https://www.chemistryworld.com/news/catching-water-with-imitation-beetle-bumps/8091.article

This incredible beetle is more than a source of inspiration for harvesting water from fog.  It contains a message for all of us!  Are you willing to stand on your head to receive the ‘water’ from the word of God? 

Jesus promised that ‘whoever drinks the water He gives them will never thirst.  Indeed, the water He gives them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.’  
John 4:14.

I heard Jerry Savelle, president of Jerry Savelle International Ministries, preach.  He said he had a hard time learning the word of God.  He kept falling asleep!  He said he began studying the word of God sitting on the edge of his bathtub!!!  Now that’s a hunger for God’s word!!!

Why is the word of God so important to learn?

It is the ‘bread of life’!  Jesus said, ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’  Matthew 4:4.  It is what we live on.
Jesus is that ‘bread of life’!  He said, ‘I am the bread of life.  (and He promised you) Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.’  
John 6:35.

The word will satisfy your hunger and thirst!

Knowledge of the word will make it possible for you to ‘participate in (His) divine nature!’

‘His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.  Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.’  2 Peter 1:3-4.

And how many promises to you are there in the bible?   In the book ‘All the Promises of the Bible’, the author Herbert Locklear found 7,147 promises from God to man!  You can’t stand on a promise if you don’t know it exists.  Study the word!  It was written just for you!!!

You will find wisdom in the word of God and, as it says in Proverbs 3:13-18, ‘Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding, for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold.  She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her.  Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor.  Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace.  She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her; those who hold her fast will be blessed.’

The scripture also has a warning to those who refuse to learn His word.  It says, ‘my people are destroyed from lack of knowledge.’  Hosea 4:6. A very sad commentary. 

Be inspired!  ‘The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.’  Revelation 22:17.

Be blessed.  The ‘Voice of the Martyrs’ list 52 countries where bibles are strictly illegal and/or severely persecuted.

BE WISE AND TAKE TIME TO READ YOUR BIBLE!  STAND ON YOUR HEAD IF YOU HAVE TO!  YOUR LIFE MAY DEPEND ON IT!