“When I was growing up on the farm,” Stan began, “about a mile down the road there was an artesian well. It wasn’t a big one, but there was always water there.”
Continuing, he added, “In the springtime there would always be some standing water that formed a pond. My older brother and I would go down there and catch polliwogs. Some people call them tadpoles. Same thing. Anyway, I would catch polliwogs and take them to school where we watched them go through the process of turning into frogs.”
“Why are you telling me this?” I asked with a smile, knowing Stan probably had a point.
“Several reasons,” he replied. “This was brought to my mind earlier this morning when I was focusing on what Jesus said about living water.”
“Living water?” I responded. “What do polliwogs and frogs have to do with living water?”
“Jesus talked about the living water that springs up like an artesian well that never stops flowing. The Holy Spirit in me is that source, and I am to visit that source and draw on it regularly.”
“As a child who was not a Christian,” he continued, “I didn’t know or understand anything about Jesus and living water. Thus, I didn’t appreciate the connection between the artesian well near the farm and the faith walk that comes from the living water of the Holy Spirit.”
“There’s lots of things about God we don’t see,” I replied, “until God opens our eyes. Isn’t seeing and knowing God what a deeper faith walk is supposed to be all about?”
“That’s it, my friend,” Stan said. “And in this particular instance, as a maturing Christian, I now know and recognize the living water that is in me is the person of the Holy Spirit. I recognize that I am to partake of that water on a regular basis, not just once in a while. In addition, I know that the living water will help me grow into something else.”
“Grow into something else,” I replied. “Seems like I’ve heard about that before.”
“Could be,” Stan said. “The apostle Paul described it as being a ‘new creature’; I’m just real glad that doesn’t mean being a frog!”
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Bible verses to consider:
Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If any man is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being shall flow rivers of living water.’” But this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive; for the Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. John 7:37–39.
Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. 2 Corinthians 5:17.
Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. John 3:3.
And this is eternal life, that they may know Thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom Thou hast sent. John 17:3.
Prayer: Thank you, Father, for your free and gracious gift of life eternally with you when my time here is completed, along with the gift of the eternal life of knowing you and Jesus in an ever-deepening personal relationship before then. Thank you, too, for the presence of the Holy Spirit in me who is the source of all of the living water I need to be yours as I pursue the relationship you have for me. I confess that too often I choose not to visit the source of that living water and I choose not to drink of what you have for me. You know and I know that I do that because I prefer something other than what you have for me. Please forgive me for that foolish approach to living the life you have for me. And please, Father, help me in following every step of your lead to constantly and consistently go to the source of all you have for me. Help me to be the new creation in Christ you intend. Thank you I can and do bring these prayers before you in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Think on this: Have you come to the source of all you need to spend the rest of eternity in God’s presence when it’s time? If no, why? If you have come to Him and have accepted what He offers for eternity, how are you doing with going to the source of living water on this side of eternity? If you do not consistently seek that source for all you need, why is that? And what changes should and can be made so you do constantly and consistently go to that living water? Is that what you want? Why or why not?
Waiting for the Train 