Water That Gives us Life

Jesus answered her and said, ”If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.”  (John 4:10).

Hey Gang:  The excitement is beginning to grow.  In less than two weeks my bride and I will board an airliner and be carried to the “land of milk and honey”.  Once again we will have the opportunity to get our hands dirty, as we help prepared the land for the influx of God’s chosen people. 

I cannot say that I am a sojourner in the land identified by God as the “land of milk and honey,” but I have spent enough time in the Arabah, the desert of Southern Israel, to gain a great respect for the desert.   I learned from some of the older salts, who have traversed the desert lands, that the desert does not take prisoners but rather kills one who do not respect its lethal ways and take adequate steps to protect himself.

On those times when we were working in the crops, remodeling buildings and erecting stone walls, we always picked the biggest dude and made him the water boy.  His job was to rotate among the troops, every half hour, and not ask if they would like to have a cup of water but rather demand that they drink a cup of water while he stands over you for, you see, one does not get thirsty or feel the need for water in the desert. 

Everyone who travels in the desert knows that water, not food, is the source of life.  Without it you are not going to survive for long.  Water is a matter of an ‘act of the will’ for thirst is not an issue nor is sweating.  Sweat evaporates as it appears on the skin and you really don’t feel thirsty.  In essence dehydration in the desert is a silent killer.

Do we not have similar problems when we move through our spiritual wilderness?  Spiritual thirst, the need for living water, is the dominating factor in the lives of all human beings.  It begins with a deep longing for something to fill that vacuum that is just the size of God- in our chest cavities.  Jesus promised that the hunger for righteousness will be filled- when we seek Him with all our heart. BUT, we also know our natural man likes to kick up his heels and park God’s armor in the closet for a season or two. 

Paul said, “Hey gang, “I sometimes do the very thing I hate”.  I wish I did not have to admit it, but I sometimes, like Paul, do the very things I hate.  But God knew that Satan would have his victories and we would choose ‘to go our own way’ (sin) periodically (Isa. 53). But He loved you and me so much, He made provision for prodigals who strayed.  And we know, that we know, that we know, that is what the cross is all about; and “there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Rom. 8:1).        

 

 So, my young lads and lassies, keep in mind, when you have thirst-that water cannot quench-Jesus will meet you at your well and give you “living water”.  When the desert sneaks up on you and threatens to bite you, keep in mind Jesus words that He offered to the Samaritan woman: “Whoever drinks of the water that I give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life” (John 4:10).

PS new blog on grampswhatshappeningman.blogspot.com Sat Oct 15. Check it out!

Blessings, Psalm 90:17

 Gramps