A Thirst Quenched: Day 7
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.’” Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. (John 7:37-39, ESV)
It is true that God is FOR mankind. He is not against us. He wants us to thrive and flourish. He is not scared of the overpopulation of the earth. His plan from the beginning was that we would be fruitful, multiply and fill the earth (Genesis 1:28). God intended to provide everything we needed.
But because Adam and Eve listened and obeyed Another, we rebelled against God (this is also called disobedience). Each of us is guilty of this disobedience. Thus, mankind was left with a thirst in our souls. And so history is filled with people seeking to quench a thirst that no money, sensual pleasure, power or human relationship can satisfy.
Listen to what God pointed out to His own people thousands of years ago: “…for my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water.” (Jeremiah 2:13, ESV). They tried digging substitutes and so were left thirsty.
In sending the Spirit, God was seeking to fulfill that thirst. God was reaching out in love because He knew the thirst, the emptiness, and all the vain attempts of filling ourselves. He said, “I am going to fill my people with my presence, with a living water and I will make it available to ALL nations and tribes and tongues.”
Upon reflecting on this event where Jesus stands up and invites everyone to come to Him, John saw that Jesus was speaking of the promised Holy Spirit.
These living waters are available to you. As we are in waiting and counting down to Pentecost, ask the Holy Spirit to lead you to His waters today. It is a thirst worthy of quenching and He wants you to come.