Are You Thirsty?
“Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.””
It’s that time of year again when temperatures rise and people get outside and do more things, whether it is working in the yard, hiking, or getting out to the lake for some fun. The hours of daylight are longer, and the sun feels hotter. Most of us know that we require more water intake during the summer. Yet, some statistics suggest that up to 75% of American adults may be chronically dehydrated. Dehydration occurs when we lose more water than we’re taking in. Water makes up about 60% of a man’s weight (50% for women), and it only takes a decline of a few percent to start noticing problems. Less than 5% loss is considered mild dehydration, while a loss of 5-10% is classified as moderate dehydration. Severe dehydration happens when the body loses 10-15% of its water weight and is considered life-threatening. Symptoms of dehydration may include muscle fatigue, dizziness, reduced cognitive processing, a confused or dazed state of awareness, and of course, thirst.
So why are so many of us allowing ourselves to become dehydrated? Quite honestly, many of us probably don’t even think about it until the symptoms become noticeable or perhaps even bothersome. It is actually quite easy to neglect drinking enough water. We get busy, distracted, or perhaps we forget to bring extra water along with us. Sometimes it’s just inconvenient. But eventually, we will find ourselves dangerously dehydrated if we don’t consistently take in enough water to replace what we lose through normal bodily processes and the additional losses through sweat that we incur during physical activity, especially in the summer months.
The same thing can happen to us spiritually, especially if we’re trying to quench our spiritual thirst through human effort. If we try to satisfy our need for God by pursuing “religion” – a system of dos and don’ts – through our own efforts, then we will be constantly running back and forth to the well, because our efforts are insufficient.
That’s why the Israelites had to repeatedly offer sacrifices for sin under the Old Testament law. The writer of Hebrews explains it: “For since the law has but a shadow of the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities, it can never, by the same sacrifices that are continually offered every year, make perfect those who draw near.” (Hebrews 10:1) “For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.” (Hebrews 10:4)
Jesus told the Samaritan woman drawing water at the well, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” (John 4:13-14) Obviously, Jesus is referring to something other than physical thirst; he is talking about our need to be reconciled to God – to be in right relationship with him.
Again, in John 7:37-38 we read: On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’” Jesus is the only way to the Father (see John 14:6), and his way is eternal, not temporary.
"For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified." -Hebrews 10:14
Jesus offers quenching water that satisfies forever – eternal life with the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. That water is available when we are “born again,” when we believe in Jesus and trust that his death on a cross was the final and sufficient payment for our sins.
As believers, do we live as though it is true? Or do we block it/dam it up by:
harboring unconfessed sin in our lives
failing to forgive others as we have been forgiven
neglecting time studying the Bible and in prayer
neglecting to worship the One who gives us life
Spiritual vitality requires us to be well “hydrated.” Let us continually rejoice in God our Savior, who has given us all we could ever want or need through Christ our Lord.
Revelation 22:1-5, 17
Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the lamb through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.
The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price.
