In A World Dying of Thirst

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She entered the church and whispered to the pastor, “I had to get some Jesus today.”

You see, she was caught between two churches. The established family church of her childhood and one that shared the Gospel of Jesus. She was thirsty, and she knew where to find her Living Water.

I’ve tried to imagine what it would be like to go to a protestant, evangelical church and still never hear about Jesus. It saddens me to come face-to-face with the reality that some of our community churches are not sharing Jesus – churches founded on God’s gift of redemption. Their fountain has run dry.

In fact, I knew a dear lady who used to go to one of those churches. Her husband’s family church. One day a mutual friend asked her, “Isn’t it hard to attend a church that never speaks of Jesus?” Her response was eye-opening and humbling. She grinned sweetly and said, “That’s why I do go there. Someone needs to tell the children about Jesus. I am a missionary within the walls of that church.” Oh what a true blessing that sweet woman must have been to so many thirsty souls through the years.

Then this week, I was reminded of others that didn’t know Jesus, but did know of the promised Messiah! In Psalm 63, I read the words of David as he cried out to God saying, “O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you…because your love is better than life…my soul will be satisfied.” David, like us, experienced both high and low places in his spiritual journey. And in those experiences, he had learned the secret to true fulfillment and peace in this world. He had a vibrant relationship with God and embraced His presence. His soul was satisfied in God’s love.

Dr. David Jeremiah shares a great insight into David’s perspective on life. “It is amazing that with no knowledge of eternal life, no knowledge of a sacrificial Savior, no knowledge of the resurrection – all the things we know well in the New Testament era – Old Testament saints like David had such a longing for God. They had a sense of His presence with them that few Christians seem to enjoy in our day.”

A sense of God’s presence. David had the promise of the Messiah, but he didn’t live in the reality of that fulfillment. Yet, he lived transparently and humbly before the Almighty God. He shared a deep and personal relationship with his Creator. And, amazingly, David was blessed to experience the gift of the Holy Spirit as well. (Psalm 51:11) David knew and loved the Sustainer of his life, and he worshipped Him - often for all the world to see.

What a great example we have in David. “My soul will be satisfied.” Wow! Isn’t that what our world is looking for? Isn’t that the reality that they can find in Jesus? Forgiveness. Purpose. Security. Peace. Hope. We live in a thirsty world, and we have the only thing that will truly satisfy their thirst. Jesus.

When’s the last time you “had to get some Jesus?” May I encourage you to take a few moments today or in the coming week to thank God for the gift of Living Water, found in Jesus. The only One who can truly satisfy our thirst. No matter how parched our world may seem, the life-giving and sustaining source of pure water is just a prayer away. In a world dying of thirst, we have the answer!

“Whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” John 4:14
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