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Water is essential to life. One of the first "relief"
supplies delivered to hurricane victims this summer was water. There
are great lessons to be learned from water that will help us live
better for the Lord. As we reflect upon our need for water, physically
and spiritually, let us keep in mind that we will not drink water
unless we are thirsty. Are we thirsty?
Physically
Physically, no living thing can survive without water.
Although some creatures are better equipped to survive desert conditions
than others, all will eventual perish if they are without water
for long enough. For this reason the earliest settlements in human
history were near rivers. Before settling into the Promised Land,
the ancient Hebrews wandered in areas where water was scarce. Thus,
the successful digging of a deep well was reason to rejoice (Num.
21:16-20), and for this same reason the dispute over ownership of
a well was often hotly contested (Gen. 26:15-22). Old Testament
writers thought of water as the beneficent gift of the Lord, not
only by its creation as part of this world (Gen. 1:6-13), but also
by the gracious blessings that water brought (Gen. 2:10-14). Drinking
water was (and is) recognized as a necessity for people that resulted
in life and vigor (Ex. 23:25; 1 Sam. 30:11-12; 1 Kgs. 18:4, 13),
as well as a necessity for the survival and flourishing of livestock
(Gen. 24:11-20; 30:38). That God was to be acknowledged as the provider
and sustainer of water is evident by covenant stipulations. If Israel
were to "hearken diligently unto the voice of the LORD thy
God, to observe and to do all his commandments" (Deut. 28:1),
then "The LORD shall open unto thee his good treasure, the
heaven to give the rain unto thy land in his season" (Deut.
12:28). At times, the Lord would chastise his people by withholding
water, encouraging their repentance (Am. 4:7; Joel 1:10-12; Hag.
1:10-11). Water is essential to life!
Spiritually
Spiritually, "water" is also essential to
life. Because of the reality of physical water's necessity to life,
the term "water" used spiritually is a forceful image.
Jesus' discussion with the Samaritan woman illustrates this point.
Because Jesus was physically weary, he went to Jacob's well. While
there, a spiritually weary Samaritan woman came to the well to fill
her waterpot (Jn. 4:4-8). Jesus requested of her, "Give me
to drink" (Jn. 4:7). She was surprised that Jesus spoke to
her because she was a Samaritan and he was a Jew, "for the
Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans" (Jn. 4:9). The Lord,
however, said to her, "If thou knewest the gift of God, and
who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have
asked of him, and he would have given thee living water" (Jn.
4:10). The Samaritan woman, thinking only of physical water, observed
that Jesus had no way of drawing water from the well and then called
his attention to the greatness of Jacob who "gave us the well"
(Jn. 4:11-12). Jesus responded, "Whosoever drinketh of this
water shall thirst again: 14But whosoever drinketh of the water
that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall
give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting
life" (Jn. 4:13-14). Still only thinking of the physical, "The
woman saith unto him, Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not,
neither come hither to draw" (Jn. 4:15)! Of course, the water
Jesus had in mind was spiritual. Later in John's Gospel, "Jesus
stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me,
and drink. 38He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said,
out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water" (Jn. 7:37-38).
The point is that just as physical water is necessary to physical
life, so spiritual water is necessary to spiritual life. Jesus is
the ultimate spiritual water.
One goal for which each child of God must strive is
to "be conformed to the image of his Son" (Rom. 8:29).
This requires each Christian to "grow in grace, and in the
knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ" (2 Pet. 3:18).
Each person who becomes a Christian does so by being born again
(Jn. 3:1-5; 1 Pet. 1:23). For a time, all new converts are "babes
in Christ." However, tragedy results when converts stay "babes
in Christ" well after the time they should have matured (1
Cor. 3:1-3; Heb. 5:12-13). Even more tragic is when new converts
fall away, back to the world (2 Pet. 2:20-22). Why do some new converts
stay "babes in Christ" all their lives? Why do some new
converts fall away completely? While each individual is responsible
for his or her own sins (Ezk. 18:20; 33:7-9), one major reason why
new converts stay babes and/or fall away is because they do not
receive the spiritual "water" (i.e., nourishment) after
conversion that is necessary for sustained spiritual life.
Planting the gospel seed is one thing, and watering
it is another. Both are necessary. Note the relationship of Paul
and Apollos. Paul said, "I have planted, Apollos watered; but
God gave the increase" (1 Cor. 3:6). We would not even think
about planting a tender plant in the ground and then abandoning
it. Rather, we will water and nourish it so that it brings forth
fruit. Yet, why do we sometimes think that our job is over when
the person we have been studying with is baptized? Like the tender
plant, the new convert needs to be "watered and nourished."
Eternally
Jesus said, "Blessed are they which do hunger
and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled" (Mt.
5:6). "The Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that
heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever
will, let him take the water of life freely" (Rev. 22:17).
Do we thirst for righteousness? Are we thirsty for the water of
life? If so, our thirst will be quenched eternally. Why not come
today if you have not taken "the water of life freely"?
©Brian Kenyon
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