Dear Ones:
The Apostle John wrote in the book of Revelation: “And He showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb.” (Revelation 22:1)
In his gospel John also wrote: “On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and DRINK. He who BELIEVES in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow RIVERS of living water. But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive…” (John 7:37-39)
In these passages we read of a river in heaven, pure and clear as crystal, with no impurities in it. We also read of rivers of living water flowing from the heart of the one who believes in Jesus. Are they the same? Yes. The river in heaven is the Spirit of Christ. The rivers of living water that spring from the innermost being of those who trust Him have as their source the very life of Christ by the Spirit.
When Jesus spoke to Nicodemus about being born again of the Spirit, he used the illustration of the wind. “The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.” (John 3:8) Can we see the wind? Can we see the clear as crystal waters of the Spirit? We cannot. But we can see the effects of the wind and we can see the effects of the Spirit of Christ in a life. This is why the Lord told Philip, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father…” (John 14:9)
Charles Wesley, in his hymn “Come Jesus, Lord, With Holy Fire,” expresses the very essence of the soul who desires to be filled with living water, the very life of Christ.
Here is the third stanza:
“Now with a quenchless thirst inspire,
A longing, infinite desire,
And fill my craving heart.
Less than Thyself, oh, do not give,
In might Thyself within me live;
COME, ALL THOU HAST AND ART.”
Let us today drink by faith from this living stream so that we may glorify God and have His life to share with others.
Love,
Dad