“Would you like a drink of water?” the bartender asked as my coughing fit would not subside. I shook my head and raised my hand in protest and in a spasmodic voice said, “No water… never drink the stuff… give me another beer!”
The bartender shook his head but did as I asked, and as I slurped down the beer the coughing subsided. Very pleased with myself I said to no one in particular, “I told you I do not need water, a good cold beer and a shot of whiskey can cure anything that ails ya!” And, of course, I continued to order both in copious quantities for the rest of the night.
I can truly say that I have hated drinking water all of my life. I think it stems back to my childhood. I don’t think we ever drank the stuff. For most of that era there was always a pitcher of Kool-Aid in the fridge. You know it if you grew up anywhere from the 50’s thru the 80’s. For those of you who do not, it came in a small envelope, in various flavors. I would say, orange and grape were my favorite. In the early days you had to add about 2 cups of sugar to every pitcher of water, of course. In truth it tasted terrible normally but, in my world, it was mandatory for everyday consumption.
So, it is little wonder that as I became an adult, I rarely drank water on my own volition. Yeah, while I was working in the hot sun every day there was a container of water and I drank it. Maybe because of that my body was able to be sustained even as my addictions fought against drinking a pure drop of it. God is good, even to fools and idiots. I have fallen under one of these categories most of my life. So, why do I write about this today?
Well, the truth is, as I came to the Lord in a faith that spoke of health as one of the things that God himself has promoted in his Word, I struggled with the idea of the importance of water. The abhorrence of the stuff was deeply engrained in my psyche. And also, I found that it was tied to my addictions. As alcohol was slowly removed from my life, I found myself replacing it with sodas and sugary drinks. I knew it was not good, but it was sure better than being a drunk, or so I justified. I needed help. I guess I found some in the several health courses I have taken and been involved in since my conversion. But the real transformation came as it always does for me these days, through God’s Word.
In the first three years of my journey back from my lostness, I read or listened to the Bible from cover to cover ten times that I recall and there was a theme in it that finds it’s roots in the very first book and even very first chapter of Genesis and runs all the way through until its conclusion in the book of Revelation. That theme is water and its importance physically, symbolically and comprehensively.
I cannot quote every verse here that shows the depth of its relevance but can give you a taste of it and the essence that changed my life and thinking on the topic. May these few verses help you to thirst for more:
“So, God made the vault and separated the water under the vault from the water above it. And it was so.” Genesis 1:7
“Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” John 4:13-14
“You visit the earth and water it abundantly, enriching it greatly. God’s stream is filled with water, for You prepare the earth in this way, providing people with grain.” Psalm 65:9
“He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’” John 7:38
He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life. Revelation 21:6
In God’s Word water is life. In my world I still struggle to drink of it physically and spiritually. But finally, after living on this earth for more years than I would like to admit, I know how important both are. I know each day that I need to drink the required 6 to 8 glasses of water. And I also know that this day I need an abundant dose of the living waters that I can only obtain as I drink in the Word of God.
I thank God that I am no longer that sad man sitting in that smoky bar bragging on his ability to be unhealthy in body, mind and soul. You and I, my friend, have the essence of life even if we live in a world burdened with disease and pain. So don’t miss it today, grab a bottle of water and pull down that dusty Bible from the shelf, God has this message for you: “The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” Let the one who hears say, “Come!” And let the one who is thirsty come, and the one who desires the water of life drink freely.” Revelation 22:17
Blessings,
John
4/20/20
