Water shortage? Return to the source
We’re used to having plenty of water in this country. We take the green
countryside for granted. We assume that we can wash regularly. We know
that water gushes out of the tap when opened so that it’s no problem to
quench our thirst.
So, it was a surprise to hear that water companies in southern and eastern
England have said they will impose water restrictions after two very dry
winters have left reservoirs, aquifers and rivers below normal levels.
Hosepipe bans are the first step from the beginning of this month. The area
now under official drought is slowly moving northwards and is expected to
include parts of Yorkshire soon, although Scotland is fine!
Palestine, where Jesus lived, is rather more accustomed to scarce supplies
of water and elevated temperatures that bake everything dry. Jesus used the
experience of being thirsty as a metaphor for our spiritual need and said that
he alone could meet this need: ‘On the last and greatest day of the Feast
[the Feast of Tabernacles involved water pouring ceremonies] Jesus stood
and said in a loud voice, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink.
Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water
will flow from within him”. By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who
believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been
given since Jesus had not yet been glorified’ (John 7v37-39).
Jesus is saying that he can satisfy this thirst for a personal knowledge of
God. This is open to all believe in Jesus: who put their full trust in his death
on that first Good Friday, which alone secures forgiveness for all who
acknowledge their sin; to fully trust in his resurrection that first Easter
Sunday, to put right with God all who abandon their own efforts to gain a
right standing with God. The result of forgiveness is the gift of the Spirit of
Jesus: the Spirit assures us that we now belong to God our Father in heaven
and enables us to follow the way of Christ.
So, all who are spiritually thirsty should come to
Jesus who is the source of an abundant supply of
living water: the Spirit of Christ is life giving and
never ending.
The Easter services (details in this magazine) help
us to discover what Jesus did so that we no longer
need thirst for God but can be satisfied. Join us if
you can.
Paul Kingman