Water in the Desert

I remember reading a story about a man lost in the desert. The sun was beating down upon him as he forced himself to keep walking; he was tired and thirsty. Just when he was about to give up and die he thought he saw something in the distance. While he feared it may only be a mirage manufactured by his weary mind he forced himself to keep walking. Finally he arrived at a small oasis in which he found an old hand pump. Next to the pump was a crate with a jug of water that had a worn leather pouch with a note in it.

The note read, “Pour the water down the hole at the base of the pump priming it to supply you with gallons of fresh water. Drink all you like; then refill the jug, seal it and leave it for the next traveler. Warning you must not drink any of the water in the jug as it contains just enough water to prime the pump.”

As the note promised the jug was full of water. If you were this man what would you do? Would you be willing to pour the water into what looks like an empty whole in the dry desert ground believing that the pump would draw up water from the well below? Or would you drink the water in the jug to save your life only to leave the jug empty with nothing to prime the pump for the next traveler?

• [2] Look! God is my Savior. I am confident and unafraid, because the Lord is my strength and my song. He is my Savior. [3] With joy you will draw water from the springs of salvation.
  Isaiah 12:2-3 (GW)

Trusting God for salvation is a lot like pouring the water from the jug into the well believing that the pump will draw up more water than you could ever hope for. We come to God with weighed down by guilt; our burden of sin that promised us happiness has left us empty and dry. Could God save us?

The jug filled with water assures us that others have found life giving water from this well. The promise of water was not empty for them, but it is so hot and dry. Will the well still provide the cool clear water to satisfy our thirst?

Faith believes in the unseen and is willing to step out and do what God says. With faith we pour the water into the dry hole. With faith we trust God for salvation. God never leaves us high and dry; Jesus Christ has opened the way for us freely drink from the water of life. With joy our thirst is satisfied with eternal life through Him. (See Revelation 21:6)