The Second Day: Separation of Waters (Jesus' Death)
The Great Expanse
Although the subject of the second day appears to be the creation of water in the seas and the water in the heavens, it's really about the tremendous separation between the two.
And God said, "Let there be an expanse between the waters to separate water from water." So God made the expanse and separated the water under the expanse from the water above it. And it was so. God called the expanse "sky." And there was evening, and there was morning-- the second day.(Genesis 1:6-8)
It was on that day when two types of water came into being: Salt (the seas) and fresh (the rain from heaven which form streams and rivers). Also from Genesis to Revelation water is a symbol of life. Salt water represents physical life as fresh water does spiritual life.
The Waters Below -- Physical Life
The waters below refer to the salt water which is found in the huge seas. And it's where the fiercest storms on earth abound. Seas are an excellent picture of how we perceive this life which is filled with endless and insurmountable struggles.
"Salt" is derived from the same base word for salt, saline, and salvation. It carries the meaning of healing, preserving or just saving something for later. As an example, one of the primary methods of preserving or curing meat was by packing it with salt or injecting it with salt water. It lasts for months without refrigeration. Another use of salt that demonstrates its "saving" power is the use of salt water as a healing agent for mouth sores.
It has another virtue when its in the sea. Salt adds buoyancy to water; it helps "lift" whatever is in the seas. As the seas represent our physical life, the salt represents God's efforts to lift us out of our lost condition. He even lifts us above our circumstances while we are still present in life here on earth.
Just as certain death that will come to anyone who is not lifted up out of the seas, death will also come to anyone who has not received spiritual life.
The Waters Above -- Eternal Life with God
The waters above represent eternal life. They come from heaven as rain and snow to the earth --to sustain life. There's no buoying salt in them, and likewise there's no need to for a person to be lifted up to safety when he already has eternal life.
The rains and snows come down from heaven and exist on earth for a time. When it's time on earth is finished, it returns to heaven. So it is with eternal life. God gives life to those of us who are "in Christ" and we go to meet Him when our work is finished here. This is described in Isaiah.
As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. (Isaiah 55:10-11)
Curiously, there is a description of the new heaven and new earth in Revelation and a comment about the lack of a sea when the old heaven and earth pass away.
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. (Revelation 21:1)
There will be no physical life when the new heaven and new earth come. And there will be no need for salvation then either. Judgment will have already taken place. Those who were lifted up (buoyed) with the message of God's salvation will have been saved.
People reproduce life by way of their children; yet, eternal life can only come from heaven. God is the only one who can give it. Similarly, the seas are within man's reach; but the source of fresh water --vapor in the atmosphere-- is unable to be captured by man. God sends it freely to the earth below to accomplish His life-giving purpose.
The Storms - The Holy Spirit at Work
Those huge storms on the seas are created by powerful winds stirring up the waves. The word for spirit is the same one used to describe what God did when He "breathed" life into Adam. It's the word for breath or wind. You can find an amazing parallel to what Jesus told to Nichodemus in John chapter three where He compared the wind to the Holy Spirit!
You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You must be born again.' The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit." (John 3:7-8)
The storms of life that we all go through are trials that God has given us to strengthen our faith so that we might learn to trust in Him rather than in our own abilities.
"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." (John 16:33)
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. (James 1:2-4)
"Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash." (Matthew 7:24-27)
Paul said it so well when he was describing the troubles in his own life.
To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:7-10)
God's intention is for us to grow in faith in His abilities and not in our own.
The Separation Was Jesus' Death for Us
The ultimate separation for anyone is being separated from our source of life: God. And that is exactly what Jesus did for us: He took our separation --our death-- so that we did not have to suffer the "second death" as He did.
God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Corinthians 5:21)
The storms will come --they are for our own good. So --as the song goes-- put your faith on the solid rock of our salvation.