Living Water
Jesus answered, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." (John 4:13-14)
There is a thirst, a desire in our soul, a void that cries out to be filled. People try to fill this void with so many different things, such as money, sex, fame, popularity, and a host of many other temporal things yet still not having that thirst quenched. People are led to believe if they could just have more they could be more fulfilled.
Jesus said in Matthew 6:19-21:
"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
The treasures of this world are only temporary. Over time fortunes can be lost, bodies become older, fame fades away, someone more popular comes along, possessions deteriorate, valuables can be stolen, and so on. Additionally, these pursuits begin to seem meaningless when we consider the one obstacle that everyone eventually faces – death.
All these things appeal to us, but they can never truly quench our thirst. They were never meant to; this void can only be filled by our creator. One would not expect a car to float or a boat to fly. It is against their design. We were designed to be in fellowship with Him and to bring glory to His name. We experience an emptiness because we are separated from Him. We are separated from Him because we have rebelled against His purpose for our lives. This rebellion is called sin, and we are all guilty of it.
The Apostle Paul said in Romans 3:23, “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”
From the very first man until the present time, humankind has rejected the authority and guidance of its creator. Feeling bad about it or saying we are sorry cannot make it all better. Even if it were possible that we could live our lives totally without sin from today forward, it would not undo our past sins. We need help. We need to be cleansed.
Paul also said in Romans 6:23 that, “the wages of sin is death… “
Because of our rebellion, we deserve God’s wrath. We have made ourselves His enemies. God’s holiness requires perfection from us, which is something we in our current state cannot provide. His justice demands we receive His wrath. We need help. We need a redeemer.
In contrast to what we have earned, God has offered us a GIFT. Nevertheless, every gift comes at a cost to the giver.
Romans 6:23b “but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
John 3:16-17: "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”
Romans 5:7-8: “Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Romans 9:1: "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus."
Would you die for your enemy? While we were in rebellion against Him, while we were His enemy, Jesus who was guilty of no sin received the wrath of God in our place (2 Corinthians 5:21). He paid a debt we could never pay and that no other human being could pay for us. However, His crucifixion was not the end. Three days later He was raised from the grave proving His authority over nature, even death (Mark 16:6).
Romans 10:9-10 says, “That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.”
Every gift must be accepted before it belongs to you. The gift He offers us is more valuable than anything we could ever possess. It is the gift of eternal life, the gift of a reconciled relationship with the creator and sustainer of all things. Turn away from a life of rebellion. Accept this gift, this living water. Love Him, live for Him, serve Him, as you were created to do (Matthew 5:16; John 1:12; Romans 8:16-18, 12:1-2; Ephesians 2:10; 1 Corinthians 10:31; Revelation 4:11).
If you wish to do so, here is a simple prayer you can pray to God. Saying this prayer is just a way to declare to God that you are choosing Him for your fulfillment. The words themselves will not save you. Only faith in Jesus Christ can. "God, I know that I have sinned against you and am deserving of punishment. But Jesus Christ took the punishment that I deserve so that through faith in Him I could be forgiven. With your help, I place my trust in You for salvation. Thank You for your wonderful grace and forgiveness and the gift of eternal life! Amen!"
If you placed your hope and trust in Christ today, share it publicly. Tell your family and friends. For information about baptism and more for your Christian journey, feel free to contact us through our website.