There is nothing as satisfying as an ice-cold drink on a swelteringly hot day.
We’ve all been there, covered in sweat – dying of thirst – and then you get handed a glass covered with condensation, filled with ice and your favourite beverage.
It tastes even better when you don’t have to get it yourself – or pay for it!
Hence, when I read Revelation 21:6, it caught my attention.
“And he said, ‘It is done!’ I am the first and the last, the beginning and the end. To anyone who is thirsty I will give the right to drink from the spring of the water of life without paying for it.” (GNT)
The water of life, what IS that … and how does one get the right to drink it without paying for it?
And then I remembered the other spot where it says, “I thirst …. it is done” when Jesus was dying on the cross. (John 19:28b,30b)
What was Jesus thirsting for on the cross?
At first glance, it appears he was literally thirsty, and maybe He was. But in light of these other scriptures, I wonder if He was also spiritually thirsty, ‘soul-thirsty’ too, as he took all of our sins on Him and paid the price of separation from God.
Because what Jesus actually achieved by dying on the cross … was the right for everyone to have eternal life (to drink from that spring of living water) without paying for it. To quench that soul-thirst we all have.
He paid the price for us.
And He wants anyone who is soul-thirsty to have free access to it.
Jesus shows us the difference between the life-giving water He gives versus the kind that comes out of the ground when He talks to the woman at the well.
“Jesus answered, if only you knew what God gives and who it is that is asking you for a drink, you would ask Him and He would give you life-giving water.
Those who drink this water will get thirsty again,
But those who drink the water that I give them will never be thirsty again.
The water that I give them will become a spring which will provide them with life-giving water and give them eternal life.
Then the woman left her water jar, went back to the town and said to the people, come see the man … (John 4:10-14,28-29 GNT)
Notice the woman understood. She left her regular water jar behind.
She didn’t need it anymore if she accepted the life-giving water Jesus was offering her empty, thirsty heart.
All of us are born with an innate soul-thirst that we try in various ways and levels of success to satisfy. We try success, fun, entertainment, self-help, fitness, wealth, knowledge, relationships, charity work, achievement, etc.
If none of that succeeds, we may try to medicate away the consciousness of the thirst with various numbing techniques like busyness, over-eating, drugs, alcohol, work, shopping, video games etc.
But Jesus says we don’t have to keep drinking that ‘water’ that only satisfies temporarily. And we don’t need to try to numb the soul-thirst either.
There is water available to us from that life-giving spring of life that satisfies forever. He has paid the price for our free access to it and enthusiastically invites us to come.
“The LORD says, “Come everyone who is thirsty, here is water!
Come you that have no money – buy grain and eat!
Come! Buy wine and milk – it will cost you nothing!
Why spend money on what does not satisfy?
Why spend your wages and still be hungry?
Listen to me and do what I say, and you will enjoy the best food of all.
Listen now my people and come to me; come to me and you will have life!
I will make a lasting covenant with you and give you the blessings I promised David.” (Isaiah 55:1-3 GNT)
“The Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come!”
Everyone who hears this must also say, “Come!”
Come whoever is thirsty; accept the water of life as gift, whoever wants it.” (Revelation 22:17 GNT)
So, are you thirsty? And if so, what are you drinking?
Come and find out how to get some of that soul-satisfying water.
