I am in Jerusalem today in the midst of Purim. There is celebration, festivities, dances, parties, and wacky costumes everywhere. I just came from London and Kenya. Inside Kenya, in the Turkana region, are nomadic people who have largely become believers over the last 40 years. They are dependent on rain and yet have been in devastating drought. As we sat under the shade of a desert tree with the elders of the village (mostly herdsmen), pastors, the chief, and a member of Parliament, the discussion was the ownership of a well to be dug. “Would you give a goat?” That was the request for the help needed to fund the project being facilitated by World Vision.
As I sat in the shade, I felt as though I had been translated into the days of the patriarchs. Then, and now, water was and is life. My heart became aware of the Lord speaking to me about His Living Water as I watched Jesus meet the women at the well of Shechem. He offered her living water and then later in Jerusalem promising rivers of living water after His glorification and the Holy Spirit’s coming. Then in the book of Revelation, in a vision of the throne, we see Jesus our shepherd leading us to living fountains of water.
17 for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters.[a] And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” Revelation 7:17
At the culmination of all things, as the holy city New Jerusalem comes down out of heaven, the promise again comes of the fountain of the water of life freely being given to him who thirsts.
6 And He said to me, “It is done![a] I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. Revelation 21:6
Finally, from the throne of God and of the Lamb proceeds a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal.
And he showed me a pure[a] river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. Revelation 22:1
Sitting in the desert of Kenya, I could see how precious was water. Thinking about California, I remembered how much we need water, rain. In the presence of God is water—the water of life. “Come and drink” I heard the Lord say. “I give freely to those who thirst, come and drink of Me and believe in Me.”
I drank and I was satisfied. Jesus again fulfilling my need, by Himself. Fundamental to our abiding relationship is the waters of life that comes from Jesus as we drink of Him.
All encounters with Jesus become, in us, a fountain of living water springing up into eternal life. Thirst and faith increases the fountains into rivers of living water through the Holy Spirt. Following Jesus, through tests into endurance, enlarges our capacity to drink and believe. His reign becomes our rain, His way our water, and His leading our fountains.
Take a moment, come to Jesus, and drink deeply of His life.
