“He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” John 7:38
Did you know that 97.5% of the water on the earth is not life giving? The salt water of the oceans comprise the bulk of this planet‘s water. Those lost at sea who drink of the salt water die excruciating deaths. There is a spiritual parallel. We live in a dry and thirsty land; there is a lot of poison water in the world. Our lives are to be a source of living water for others. Life-giving water only flows from hearts that confidently trust in the Savior.
The word ’believe’ is far more than mental assent to the truths of Christ’s existence. It is choosing to live with total confidence in the person and work of Jesus Christ. It is loving Him--and His ways--about what we ‘know’ and love in our day-to-day. It is accepting even the hard things of life as gifts from the hand of a loving Father. It is struggling to see the heart of God in painful realities. It is believing in His goodness even when the external evidence screams otherwise. It is choosing to act on the promises of God with solid confidence in His faithfulness to do what He says. That is the sort of belief that gives life to those around us.
Our natural lives are like the ocean-water…beautiful, powerful and with the illusion of life. On occasion, we glimpse the death within. A cancer diagnosis, a heart attack or other deadly disease rears up and reminds us of our physical mortality. Spiritually, death slithers around our relationships striking out in harsh condemnation, gossip and self-centered loveless-ness. These appearances serve to remind us seek life. God is the giver of life--He loves life. Like the nerves in our body that warn us of danger, the stings of death drive us to the Source of life. The ocean is part of the water cycle that sustains this planet. It has purpose in God’s design; its purpose is not drinking of it as it sits. The purpose of our natural lives is to allow the Living water to enter in and overflow in this world.
If we lived in a village with two wells--one with fresh, delicious water and another with dank, disease-ridden water, we would direct all we spoke with to the good well. As we walk through this world, we have opportunity not only to tell people about the Living Water--we carry it with us. That is a promise, a responsibility, and a joy that fills my heart with praise for the Giver of Life. Who do you know needing a drink today?
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