A Spring of Water

Water is a unique feature of planet earth. Wherever it flows, thirsty lands and people are refreshed. Our bodies can survive prolonged periods without food, but abstaining from water is dangerous. As a cleansing agent, we used it both internally and externally—to flush impurities from our system and to wash dirt from our skin.

Jesus said, “But whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst; the water that I shall give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” (Jn. 4:14 RSV)

Jesus used water as a symbol of His Words—and of His Word, our Bible. When activated by the Holy Spirit the Word becomes a cleansing agent. It purges secret sins of the thought life as well as obvious external vices.

The Word also satisfies spiritual thirst and generates spiritual health. It becomes that “spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

Originally published March 12, 1982.