Summertime

Richard Hollerman

Summertime is here! Apart from the calendar, we feel the heat. It has been hot! Day after day, the heat continues, with each day or many of the days reaching 100 or more. We are referring to this place (of Texas, in the United States) but maybe it is cold—very cold—where you are living.

But here, we find that the summer has arrived. I remember my years of youth and maybe you do too. At that time, we always looked forward to the summer months. Why? Because it gave us a much-needed break from school and other activities. We could spend the summer (generally, in those days it was from about May 31 to early September) months doing what we wanted. We would generally sleep later (however, I suppose that I got up at the same time each day), play games, go to the library, vacation, and the like. (I lived in a small town where these would have been available.)

Whether it is in America, or other places in the northern hemisphere, it would be hotter than normal. I lived in a northern state where it was not as hot as here in Texas, but it was still warm or even hot. We understand that there are some places today where hundreds or even thousands have died. They have no air conditioning and simply must endure the heat—during the day and at night. From what we understand, people around the world have encountered heat that kills them. In fact, this year, when some countries reached 120 degrees and higher, the toll has been quite high. Can you imagine trying to sleep in this kind of weather!

In the North where I lived we knew nothing about air conditioning. (I might add that there was no air conditioning in cars either.) But here in Texas, in the twenty-first century, we do generally consider it a necessity. We know that for millions of people around the world of the northern hemisphere (where about ¾ of the people live) the hotter weather is debilitating.

Wherever we may live, we need to drink much more during the hotter months of the year. We understand that at such times, we would do best to drink six or even eight glasses of water per day. Let’s make sure that this is purified and that we can drink it without ill effects!

As you know, I sought to save as much money in as many ways as I could. I drove much less. I would keep the air conditioner off and sometimes turn on the fan. I can remember at some of the places where I lived, quite drenched during the night as I tried to endure the heat and humidity. (This was hard to do and I would often lie there in the heat, seeking some sort of relief—a relief that wouldn’t cost money.) Of course, I did this to save expenses and since I was a very low wage-earner this was needed. Also, I knew that for every dollar I spent on cooling or heating (I would also try to save during the winter!) I would have that much less for living expenses and work for the Lord.

So the hot summer months are upon us. We know that the Bible lands also have hotter weather. For instance, the Dead Sea, that registers very high temperatures during the summertime, is the lowest place on earth. It is about 1,412 feet below sea level. Some years ago my wife and I visited Israel and stayed in a hotel (which was provided by the “package”) that was situated along the Dead Sea! In July of that year, it did get hot and we were glad for the cooler temperature inside!

We would do well to remember that the Sea of Galilee (also known as the Sea of Tiberius and Lake Gennesaret) was also quite low in elevation (although not as much as the Dead Sea). It was some 1,290 feet below sea level. And this is where Jesus lived, at least for a time, thus He must have experienced hotter weather than in His native Nazareth. (See Matthew 4:13.) It would also be good to remember that at least four of the apostles were fishermen and they experienced the heat too (although their work was during the night when it did cool off a bit). (See Matthew 4:18-22.)

We know that heat (as well as cold) will continue until Christ returns. After the flood (about 2472 BC) we read:

Seedtime and harvest,

And cold and heat,

and summer and winter,

and day and night

Shall not cease

(Genesis 8:22).

Look for the summer to continue. And the cold will continue too. God knows what He is doing and will do all things well!

See also:

https://www.icr.org/article/when-did-noahs-flood-happen