This has been a different winter with warmer temperatures and less snow than usual. A drive to Homer shows none of the rivers are frozen. Cold flowing waters rather than frozen conditions are prevalent around the peninsula.
When I’m thirsty it’s nice to turn on the water tap and have some cold, flowing water to drink. Sometimes water is the only drink that will quench thirst. Coffee, sodas, fruit juice, and a myriad supply of other blends and brands are mostly good but sometimes they just don’t satisfy like water.
Water is a basic requirement for life’s existence. Scientists always search for water when interplanetary discoveries are made. Earth is unique with abundance of water, hence the abundant life that exists here.
Water in the Bible is typical of the blessings of God. Isaiah wrote, “with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.” Ezekiel had a vision of a river he could not pass over, and he wrote, “every thing shall live whither the river cometh.” Water is a type of life and joy as well as other blessings God will provide.
Jeremiah wrote about snow and “cold flowing waters.” He asked why they should be forsaken and left for something else. He mentioned this problem of forsaking what is good in the opening chapters of his book. Jeremiah quoted the Lord saying that his people had “forsaken me the fountain of living waters.” Not only was the fountain forsaken, but also cisterns that could hold no water were hewn, probably out of rock. Their search and hard work yielded no viable option to satisfy thirst.
Jesus continued to use water as a type of life and blessing in his teaching. He referred to the gift of God as a “well of water springing up into everlasting life.’ He invited those who are thirsty to come to him and drink of “rivers of living water.” John, the writer of that passage, clarified what Jesus was referring to, the gift of the Spirit of God.
The flow of the Spirit in their lives is what the disciples experienced in fulfillment of these promises. Peter quoted the prophet Joel in his message in Acts 2 that God will “pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh.” This outpouring was what Peter was explaining to those who asked, “What meaneth this?”
Paul, the prolific writer of Scripture, said they were “all made to drink into one Spirit.” It was poured out in great abundance, satisfying spiritual thirst like nothing else.
The hope of heaven is a strong anchor of faith. What won’t be there is motivation to go to heaven as well as what will be there. Satan and sin won’t be there. The Bible says God will wipe away every tear, and there will be no more death, sorrow, crying, or pain. Moreover, thirst and hunger will be no more in heaven. The “pure river of water of life” flows there. I wonder if it will be like “cold flowing waters?”
Mitch Glover is pastor of the Sterling Pentecostal Church located on Swanson River Road and Entrada. Services on Sunday include Bible classes for all ages at 10:00 a.m. and worship at 11:00 a.m. Thursday Bible study is at 7:00 p.m. (sterlingpentecostalchurch.com)