Water
Water. In its natural form: colourless, odourless and tasteless. For people who have plenty of it, it’s often not the drink of choice – described as ‘boring’. And yet, the average human can only live for three days without it.
In the cities of Australia we are very fortunate. Just turn on the tap and out flows good quality, drinkable water. Out in the country however, it can be a very different story. Many country areas are in drought and sometimes have to pay for water to be brought by truck out to their farms.
In other places around the world, the situation is far worse. We hear stories of men and women walking long distances to join a queue, just so they can fill a container with water to take home to their families. Still others are reduced to using water they know is contaminated, because they just don’t have any other choice.
This is just another example of the inequality in this world. Some of us have plenty of this essential resource and to be frank, can take it for granted and be quite wasteful with it. Others are struggling to get enough to survive from day to day.
Jesus is coming back to the earth to fix all these inequalities. He is going to make sure that everyone has plenty of what they need to live a good life. But better than that, he is offering those who are interested enough right now, the opportunity to never need water again.
Jesus once met a woman who was drawing up water from a well to take home to her family. It was hard work and we get the impression the woman was tired of having to do this every day. Here’s what Jesus told her: “…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, NIV)
This offer is still on the table. Read the bible to find out more.