Ponds or Rivers

If I asked you to imagine a visual of living water, which image more likely would come to mind, a river or a pond? For me that is a pretty simple response, a river is constantly moving, winding back and forth, carrying boats, tree limbs, and other items downstream. In contrast, ponds may appear stagnant and stale, there really isn't any movement of the water in a pond. If you had to choose one of the two sources of water for a drink, would you choose the ever moving, bubbly fresh water from a river, or would you choose the stagnate, stale pond to quench your thirst? That choice is obvious, yet in life we many times forego the living water to instead choose the stale pool that this world offers. 

Before we "dive" into our comparison of rivers and ponds, it is relevant and important to define true living water. For our Flat Tire Thought, we need to envision "Living Water" as God. There are numerous references throughout the Bible referencing the living water of God, His Word, and Jesus His Son. God is alive and His Holy Spirit flows through our lives. The Holy Bible is the living word of God. Historical in context, preordained in purpose, the Holy Bible is God's guidebook that surpasses all time and perspectives. Finally, Jesus makes reference to Himself as the true Living Water in the Gospel of John, "But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life." John 4:14. Shall we continue? 

In my purview ponds appear lifeless. In most cases the boundaries are visible and there is no life force outside of rain adding to the quantity of water available. In a good rainy season ponds may appear fresh, but when there is an extended dry period, the perimeter of a pond begins to decrease and the water begins to develop algae due to inaction and a lack of a fresh water source. In much the same way, the ways of this world may appear to be thriving and growing, but in reality the ways of this world will only leave us thirsty for another drink of the next mounting wave. As a pond begins to shrink when the precipitation decreases, so do the ways of this world as it becomes obvious that the stagnancy of this world cannot meet the needs of our heart and soul. 

Conversely, from the moment we are in the presence of a river, the water appears to have a life of its own. Always moving, increasing in volume and speed after a storm, and eager to arrive to fulfill it's purpose of providing life to the bigger body of water it is destined to support. The sound alone of a mighty river flowing over rocks in a rapid demonstrates the livelihood and power of this body of water. Teeming with life, rejoicing in its purpose, and resistant to man's constraints, a river provides a wonderful comparison to the Living Water of our God. Jesus definitively proclaims His role as the source of living water in this scripture taken also from the Gospel of John, "... Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, "Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them." John 7:37-38. Notice verse 37 says that Jesus said in a "loud voice", which creates the image of the mighty river of life that Jesus is for all that believe. Not just a mighty river, but a river of living water that will flow from within us. Most certainly, we are to drink from the true well of Living Water which is Christ and then per the words of Jesus we are to allow His Living Water to flow outwards forming tributaries of the good news of hope and life eternal with God our creator and Heavenly Father! 

The question today is a choice. Do you want to drink from the stagnate pond of this life, or will you choose to drink from the well of Living Water that flows like a river from God, through His Son Jesus, to all who accept His offer to drink from the water that never runs dry and will eternally quench our thirst? The choice is yours. Choose God's river of life!

Coach Carter