Jesus - The Water of Life

A common assumption when treating people suffering from heat exhaustion is to simply give them more water. The problem with this is that the person suffering from it could drink half a liter of water and still not get better. In reality, the affected person's body is missing something vital. The salts in her body have been depleted to a point that no amount of water can fix. Once they've had a sports drink or two to replenish electrolytes, they'll feel much better again. The solution is to feed them the right substance.

In life, there are common beliefs about important things that we humans believe we lack in order to make our lives fulfilling. We know something is wrong, so we try to fulfill our desires with a more meritorious job, wealth, a new love relationship, or the acquisition of fame. But history has shown us time and time again how people who seemed to have everything found that they were missing something.
The answer to this human dilemma is found in an interesting place in the Bible. In the book of Revelation of Jesus Christ, John gives us a picture of heavenly hope.

He quotes Jesus as saying: “I (Jesus) am the root and offspring of David, the bright morning star. And the spirit and the bride say: Come! And whoever hears it, say: Come! And whoever thirsts, come; Whoever wills, let him take the water of life free" (Rev 22,16-17).

This passage reminds me of the story of Jesus meeting the woman at the well. Jesus tells the woman that whoever drinks of the water he offers will never be thirsty again. Not only that, but this living water, once drunk, becomes a fountain of eternal life.

Jesus describes himself as the living water: «But on the last, the highest day of the festival, Jesus appeared and called out: Whoever is thirsty, come to me and drink! As the Scriptures say, whoever believes in me, rivers of living water will flow out of his body” (John 7,37-38).

He is the key ingredient; he alone gives life. When we accept Christ as our life, our thirst is quenched. We no longer need to ask ourselves what fills us up and what heals us. We have been fulfilled and made whole in Jesus.

In our passage from Revelation, Jesus assures us that He has everything we need to live full and satisfying lives. In him we have been raised to new life. A life without end. Our thirst is quenched. Things in our lives like money, relationships, respect and admiration can enrich our lives. But these things in and of themselves will never fill the empty space that only Christ can fill.

Dear reader, does your life feel exhausting? Do you feel like your life is one big attempt to fill something that's missing deep inside you? Then you should know that Jesus is the answer. He offers you the living water. He offers you nothing less than himself. Jesus is your life. It's time to quench that thirst once and for all with the only one who can make you whole - Jesus Christ.

by Jeff Broadnax