"All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea is not full: unto the place from whence the rivers come, thither they return again." Eccl. 1:7.
It was a wise observation of Solomon expressed in the above Bible verse. How marvelously the Creator has arranged through the inflow of rivers and evaporation of ocean surfaces, that all continues the same since the Lord God first established it. About three fourths of the earth's surface is covered by its oceans, just the right amount to bring the greatest benefits to all.
Rain, as we know, is necessary for life to exist, and most of it comes from evaporation of sea water into the atmosphere. Winds carry this moist air over the land where the moisture drops as rain or snow. Much of the snow dropped on mountains remains until the summer sun melts it. The melting snow fills streams, lakes and wells with sweet water for all living things during dry, hot summer months. This should always be a reminder of how God cares for us and all His other creatures.
The oceans, together with the sun's warmth, combine to make the world a livable place. The great amount of water helps moderate the earth's temperatures. In summer the water absorbs heat from the sun and stores it until wintertime when it is released to reduce the chill of the air over the land. In the summer this storehouse of water is cooler than the land air and, blown by the wind, again adds to the comfort of all.
Many things besides fish are in the oceans. Chemicals and minerals, for instance, continuously deposited by the rivers bring untold millions of tons of gold, silver, manganese, iron and innumerable other things into it, some of which are recovered for man's use. For instance, the salt in the shaker on your dining room table probably has come from the ocean. The saltiest water of all is in the Red Sea and the least salty is in the polar seas where huge icebergs form.
The sea is more than five miles deep in some places in both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, and many high mountains rise from those deep floors. The tips of some come above the water to form islands, such as those in Hawaii, the Aleutians, the Marianas, etc., many of them making lovely home sites.
Solomon, as indicated in our opening verse, was familiar with many of the wonders of the oceans and left this message for us in the Bible: "Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth." Eccl. 12:1. It is important to know Him as the Creator, but more important to know Him as your Savior! Is this true of you?