Living Water
I always laugh when I see a puny 50-gallon rain barrel for sale, anywhere from $50 to $100. I marvel at how little 50 gallons really is when we personally empty our 200-gallon rain barrel in our backyard in about a week of dry weather. Especially since we only water about a dozen tomatoes and a few pumpkins from it. Truth be told, it takes a lot of water to keep plants alive and growing. Anybody who collects rainwater, pays a water bill, or works in agriculture knows that all too well.
But then, when it does rain, we all say “Hallelujah!” A little quarter inch of rain is enough to fill up our rain barrel completely. A half inch of rain is enough to water the tomatoes and pumpkins for several days besides. Not to mention, a full inch of rain is enough to water the grass and the flowers. And, finally, several inches through the early summer months will make the difference between harvesting a hay crop or liquidating cattle to save feed on a ranch.
The point is this. We can and should do our part to store water, conserve water, and use it wisely. But in a dry climate, we can never provide enough water on our own. We constantly and regularly need a provision of fresh water – and lots of it – whether it be by well, spring, rain, or snow. And who will provide so abundantly? God.
The same is true with our spiritual resources. We can be religious all we want, but religion will not get us very far. Our religion is like trying to use a 50-gallon rain barrel to support a full garden, a family, and livestock as well. It could never be enough. When it comes to spiritual resources, we need a plentiful supply of water that will be big enough to provide mercy for an entire world of sinners and grace to provide eternal life forever. And who will provide so abundantly? God!
Remember when Jesus went to the well and asked the sinful Samaritan woman for a little drink of water? She could have, at best, only given Him a little, tiny bit of water, enough to satisfy His thirst for a couple hours. But Jesus, on the other hand, was ready and willing to give her living water, “water that … will become … a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life” (John 4:14).
Maybe you are a good person and you go to church. Congratulations, you have a little rain barrel that might satisfy your spirit for a day or two. But if you are born again and know Jesus as your Savior, you know full well how much greater it is to sit back and enjoy His living water that springs up and gives you everlasting life.