“And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is thirsty come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.”
(Revelation 22:17)
The imagery of living water in Scripture depicts the Holy Spirit’s essential role and work in effecting redemption and sanctification in the heart and life of a believer.
A perfect example of the redemptive value of this living water can be found in Christ’s words to the Samaritan woman at the well, “But those who drink 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 4:14).
Another such example is recorded a few chapters later in John 7. This event occurred on the last and most important day of the festival celebrating the Feast of Tabernacles. Christ, who was present in the crowd on this particular day, proclaims to those who are gathered, “If any man thirst, let him come unto me and drink. He that believes on me, as the scripture has said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water,” (John 7:37-38). And in the very next verse, John clarifies that this “living water” Christ speaks of is in reference to the Holy Spirit, “He spoke of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive…” (John 7:39).
Yet another such example is found in the Old Testament book of Ezekiel: “Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean; from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments and do them,” (Ezekiel 36:25-27).
The Spirit’s work is essential, for our sinful hearts are naturally dry and parched until this living water moistens them. Our hearts are hard until it softens them; they are naturally filthy until it washes and cleanses them. Our hearts are barren until the living waters of this spiritual river causes them to flourish and bring forth fruit. And the best news of all is that this river of living water is sufficient and free. All may come and partake of these waters; none are excepted. “Whoever will, may come and take of the waters of life freely.”
The heart of man is subject to great heats and fits, and sometimes it is sweltered with temptation. Thomas De Laune said rightly, “The Spirit cools this heat, partly by subduing the lusts of the flesh, and partly by strengthening the renewed part. Jesus Christ opens the oven of a distempered heart, and by casting the water of the Spirit on it, brings it into a cooler Temper.”[1]
Praise be to God for opening a free passage through Jesus Christ to the cleansing, healing, restoring waters of his Spirit, for a truly happy heart is one in which this river of living water is running through it!
Contemplations:
- Lord, your Spirit waters the soul and makes it fruitful. Men’s hearts are naturally barren, but when the sacred rain of your Spirit falls on them, they flourish and bring forth the fruits of righteousness.
- Your Spirit softens the hard heart by applying the blood of Christ. As soon as the water of the Spirit washes over the heart of a stubborn sinner, he is made tender and pliable by him. Lord, what will you have me do? You have softened my heart and made me willing to do whatever your will and pleasure is.
- Your Spirit heals all the wounds and diseases of the soul. Lord, be merciful to me, and heal my soul for I need that continual river to flow over me. Your Spirit searches to the bottom of every sore, purges out the corruption, and applies the blood of Christ which heals the soul of all its wounds.
- I see, Lord, that the Spirit is of absolute necessity, without whom we cannot live to God, cannot live the life of faith, the life of holiness. Many perish and are utterly lost because they refuse to come and drink of the water of life.
- Help me through the Spirit to quench the fires of temptations all around me – the fire of pride and the fire of passion, which the world, the flesh, and the devil are ready at every turn to kindle in me, and which would, were it not for this sacred Water, burn and consume my soul and bring me to utter desolation.
Further References for Rev. 22:17:
Isa. 55:1; John 4:14, 7:37; Rev. 19:7
[1] Thomas De Laune, Tropologia, (London: John Richardson and John Darby, 1681), 319.
