Fountains of Living Water

Jesus, thank You that You don’t want me to live only for, or enjoy only, temporary and fleeting “buckets” of water, like the Samaritan woman who went to draw a bucket of water from Jacob’s well.

You told this woman that whoever drinks the water You shall give will never thirst, but the water You give shall become in that person a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.

I want that water.

I want that living water, springing up into everlasting life.

I know that water doesn’t represent only eternity and everlasting life. It is also for us here and now.

Because on the day You told that Samaritan woman this wonderful news, You also told the disciples, as they returned with food for You, that the fields were already white for harvest.

You said that he who reaps receives wages and gathers fruit for eternal life, so that both he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together.

They can rejoice right now.

One sows, and another reaps, and together they rejoice.

Just like the Samaritan woman who went out and declared all that Jesus had told her, she had "sown" into her community. Because of her testimony, those same people came to Jesus to hear this wonderful news for themselves.

They learned that Jesus truly is the Savior of the world, the One who gives living water. Their lives were forever changed, both then and for eternity.

Even heaven rejoices when just one sinner comes to repentance:

“I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance.”

Luke 15:7

This living water, which many of us feel we cannot obtain right now, is offered to us. You have shared in Your Word certain truths that we must hold dear.

You tell us in Jeremiah 2:13 how grieved You were when the Israelites forsook You, the fountain of living waters:

“For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, and hewn themselves cisterns, broken cisterns that can hold no water.”

Jeremiah 2:13

In Jeremiah 17:5–8, You tell us that cursed is the man who trusts in man, but blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD and whose hope is the LORD.

Why?

Because that individual shall be like a tree planted by the waters.

For You alone, LORD, are the fountain of living waters in whom we must place our trust and hope.

“Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, and whose hope is the LORD. For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, which spreads out its roots by the river, and will not fear when heat comes; but its leaf will be green, and will not be anxious in the year of drought, nor will cease from yielding fruit.”

Jeremiah 17:7–8

Even the very first Psalm of the Bible tells us something about being planted by these waters. Psalm 1:1–3 says:

“Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.”

Psalm 1:1–3

I want to be like that tree planted by the rivers of water that “bringeth forth his fruit in his season.”

It says that his leaf shall not wither and that whatsoever he does shall prosper.

Abiding in the Vine

“Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.”

John 15:4–5

That tells me there is life, everlasting life, when I abide in the Vine.

I, as the branch, must abide in the Vine because He is my source of life.

Just as a tree must remain planted by the waters to stay alive, green, and fruitful, a branch must abide in the Vine to bear fruit. Jesus Christ is the source of that life.

Revelation has much to say about Jesus, who gives us living water. Further down, if you choose to continue reading, I share verses showing how we can receive and abide in the source of this living water, Jesus Christ, today.

Revelation 7:16–17

“They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any heat; for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

Revelation 7:16–17

Revelation 21:5–6

“Then He who sat on the throne said, ‘Behold, I make all things new.’ And He said to me, ‘Write, for these words are true and faithful.’ And He said to me, ‘It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts.’”

Revelation 21:5–6

Revelation 22:1–2

“And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.”

Revelation 22:1–2

Revelation 22:17

“And the Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come!’ And let him who hears say, ‘Come!’ And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.”

Revelation 22:17

Do you want to truly know the source of living water?

This precious gospel isn’t just about the new birth. It’s about a relationship with the One who truly loves you and will never leave you nor forsake you.

You can trust that Jesus Christ will be with you when all else fails, or when others simply cannot be with you because of their own humanity and weakness.

We all need Jesus Christ.

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The New Birth

“On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, ‘If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’ But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.”

John 7:37–39

How can we not want this living water?

Scripture also speaks of the water, the blood, and the Spirit bearing witness concerning Jesus Christ:

“This is He who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ; not only by water, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who bears witness, because the Spirit is truth.”

1 John 5:6

“And there are three that bear witness on earth: the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree as one.”

1 John 5:8

This living water is freely offered to all who desire it.

But we must choose to come and drink. We have today. We may not have tomorrow.

Water and the New Birth

“Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.’ Nicodemus said to Him, ‘How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?’ Jesus answered, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.’”

John 3:3–5

“Then Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.’”

Acts 2:38

“Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, ‘See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?’ Then Philip said, ‘If you believe with all your heart, you may.’ And he answered and said, ‘I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.’ So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him.”

Acts 8:36–38

“‘Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?’ And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord.”

Acts 10:47–48

“And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.”

Acts 22:16

“Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.”

Ephesians 5:25–27

“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior.”

Titus 3:5–6

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I’d rather choose rivers of living water springing up into everlasting life than a simple bucket of water that leaves me thirsty and having to return for more.