World Water Day - Imagine This!

Tomorrow, March 22, is the UN's annual World Water Day. This year's theme is "Water for Cities". 1000 delegates from 66 countries are gathered at a UN conference in Cape Town to address issues related to water, poverty, politics and urban issues.

The Bible describes a magnificent urban river scene in the last chapter of Revelation – a dazzling river with crystal clear water flowing down the middle of a great avenue.

The river flows from the throne of God which tells us that God loves this city* and sustains it as a place of refuge* and safety and where its citizens are being spiritually renewed* and nourished. Jesus is the spring of living water for the thirst and cleansing of the world.

Flowing down the center of the main avenue, I picture the Thames in London or the Seine in Paris, but you could imagine a hundred cities where a river is the centerpiece of city life. People sit in cafés or parks along the river or look out office windows to enjoy the scenery below.

The river reflects the importance of water for everyone who calls the city home. Proximity means access to clean water for drinking, washing and sanitation; central location implies equitable access for everyone.

But for 800 million people in our world today, many in crowded urban slums, this is only a dream – an impossible dream, unless we let this vision of a God-designed, God-nourished city instruct us how to pray and work in the world today - that urban people in every city on earth may enjoy these amenities that God intends for human life.

Another vital feature of this river-city is its vibrant green-space. Fruit trees grow all along the river bank with year-round variety of fruits. Human beings have a deep affinity with nature and we grow sick when we are nature-deprived. The Creator who planted Eden for our first parents, fills this city with green – teaching us to pursue similar greening efforts so that our cities may more accurately reflect God’s purpose and example.

The leaves of these trees are ‘for the healing of the nations’. Imagine a world free of disease because everyone has clean water.

Imagine a richly cosmopolitan city where ethnic enclaves no longer breed fear and hostility. Think of the river-nourished trees as God’s people serving as agents of reconciliation. Wherever discord reigns, they are active in pursuing reconciliation and peace for the well-being of the whole city.*

I wasn’t invited to South Africa for World Water Day, but if I could address the esteemed delegates, I would read them this biblical vision – a vision of an urban world no longer afflicted by the old curse. I would point them to Jesus as the well-spring of life for all nations. And then I would get them discussing how to implement this vision into the daily life of the city – its politics, economy, arts, education, health care and religious life.

This is the challenge of everyone who like Jesus weeps over their city because of the river missing from its heart and who longs to see signs of the new creation spilling over into the present world.

* Special acknowledgement to Christian Direction, an urban ministry in Montreal whose vision is “to see God transform urban communities by the concerted actions of committed Christians.” I have used several phrases from their renewed Vision Statement and I applaud their commitment to urban ministry. Click here to watch a 5 minute video on God's love for the city.

Photo Sources:
1. San Antonio - David Knight
2. London ...
3. Kibera, Nairobi . . .
4. Dusseldorf (adapted).