Bible Ballistics: Vol. 12 No.23 Clean Water—It’s A Choice???

 

Some time ago a large northern city changed their water source to save some money, apparently without due diligence in regard to the quality of the water that their residents would be consuming, which lead to quite a scandal when the water was found to be harmful to the consumers, a scandal that is still being resolved. While water is essential for human life, it is also an essential element of our spiritual life—for Jesus is the water of life. Good, clean water will promote a healthy population, while polluted water can bring disease, sickness and other issues that result in an unhealthy population.

I’d like is to consider the spiritual consequences of polluted water in our own spiritual life. If we are walking with Jesus, and drinking from the fountain of His Word, led by His Holy Spirit, our lives should then share pure water, not water polluted by the contaminants of the world. Jesus told the woman of the well that if she came to Him for water it would be an eternal source of sustenance and refreshing.

“Jesus answered and said unto her,

If thou knewest the gift of God,

and who it is that saith to thee,

Give me to drink;

thou wouldest have asked of him,

and he would have given thee

living water.

11 The woman saith unto him,

Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with,

and the well is deep:

from whence then

hast thou that living water?

12 Art thou greater than our father Jacob,

which gave us the well,

and drank thereof himself,

and his children, and his cattle?

13 Jesus answered and said unto her,

Whosoever drinketh of this water

shall thirst again:

14 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 4:10-14

As Jesus told this woman of Samaria, and us as well, about “the water that I shall give him”–it is not just for the “after life”, but for “everlasting life”—if you would, for everlasting “living” in this world while we are here, as well for eternity with Jesus in heaven!

When we continually remember that Jesus is our source of all things, we can walk in holy, pure victory every day (not ease but victory!). We can make a difference in this world—but only when we drink from HIS fountain, and allow His Word to pervade our life, our attitudes, and our choices, which will be a reflection of what is truly in our heart; either the filling of the Holy Spirit or the influence of the world—we continually must choose to walk with our Lord or let the darkness pervade our heart and life.

Going back to the law of Moses, God warns us that we aren’t to be led astray by the influences around us—we are to stand fast in God’s ways and not fall for the lies, deceit and perverse ways of the world.

“Thou shalt not raise a false report:

put not thine hand with the wicked

to be an unrighteous witness.

2 Thou shalt not follow a multitude

to do evil;

neither shalt thou speak in a cause

to decline after many

to wrest judgment:

3 Neither shalt thou countenance

a poor man in his cause.”   Exodus 23:1-3

We must keep our eyes on Jesus—and that can often mean a strict line of separation between God’s ways and the world’s ways. We often think that we’re the only ones who have faced the challenges before us, but God warned the children of Israel those many years ago to be cautious of the dangers of ‘lies’—big ones, small ones, seemingly innocent ones, which are still lies and deceit. We are warned to not be false in our own testimony of anything, nor to join the wicked in their lies/deceit regardless of their so-called “good causes”. God said we are to avoid “mob rule”, which can work up a frenzy to the harm of many; nor are we to join others in obstructing justice—for the rich or the poor. We are to follow God not others, no matter how charismatic or charming their lies may seem! God is no part of lies!

“In hope of eternal life,

which God,

that cannot lie,

promised

before the world began;

3 But hath in due times manifested his word

through preaching,

which is committed unto me

according to the commandment

of God our Saviour;” Titus 1:2-3

And while our God IS truth, and “cannot lie”, there is one who is the epitome of all lies, and Jesus called him by name!

“Jesus said unto them,

If God were your Father,

ye would love me:

for I proceeded forth and came

from God;

neither came I of myself,

but he sent me.

43 Why do ye not understand my speech?

even because ye cannot hear my word.

44 Ye are of your father

the devil,

and the lusts of your father

ye will do.

He was a murderer from the beginning,

and abode not in the truth,

because there is no truth in him.

When he speaketh a lie,

he speaketh of his own:

for he is a liar,

and the father of it.

45 And because I tell you the truth,

ye believe me not.

46 Which of you convinceth me

of sin?

And if I say the truth,

why do ye not believe me?

47 He that is of God

heareth God’s words:

ye therefore hear them not,

because ye are not of God.” John 8:42-47

Even as The Lord Jesus told His disciples before He went to the cross:

“Jesus saith unto him,

I am the way,

the truth,

and the life:

no man cometh unto the Father,

but by me.”   John 14:6

Jesus IS Truth, and in Him we can know truth, we can walk in truth, we can live truth. Paul painted so many pictures of the ‘truth’ that we possess in, with and through the salvation that is IN HIM!

“That we should be to the praise of his glory,

who first trusted in Christ.

13 In whom ye also trusted,

after that ye heard

the word of truth,

the gospel of your salvation:

in whom also after that ye believed,

ye were sealed

with that holy Spirit

of promise,” Ephesians 1:12-13

“But speaking the truth

in love,

may grow up into him

in all things,

which is the head,

even Christ….

21 If so be that ye have heard him,

and have been taught by him,

as the truth

is in Jesus:” Ephesians 4:15 & 21

“For ye were sometimes darkness,

but now are ye light

in the Lord:

walk as children of light:

9 (For the fruit of the Spirit

is in all goodness

and righteousness

and truth😉

10 Proving what is acceptable

unto the Lord.” Ephesians 5:8-10

It’s not my goodness that is the evidence that I belong to Jesus, but it’s HIS “goodness and righteousness and truth” being displayed in my living before the world as I “walk in the Spirit”, with a heart that is full of Jesus’ “goodness and righteousness and truth”! That will be the ‘proof’ as my mouth speaks forth the things of God! Jesus and James both make reference to this inescapable connection that speaks much louder than mere ‘words’!

“O generation of vipers,

how can ye, being evil,

speak good things?

for out of the abundance of the heart

the mouth speaketh.

35 A good man

out of the good treasure

of the heart

bringeth forth good things:

and an evil man

out of the evil treasure

bringeth forth evil things.

36 But I say unto you,

That every idle word that men shall speak,

they shall give account thereof

in the day of judgment.”   Matthew 12:34-36

And again Jesus says:

“But those things which proceed

out of the mouth

come forth from the heart;

and they defile the man.

19 For out of the heart proceed

evil thoughts,

murders,

adulteries,

fornications,

thefts,

false witness,

blasphemies:

20 These are the things

which defile a man:

but to eat with unwashen hands

defileth not a man.”    Matthew 15:18-20

The mouth can be the portal into the heart, to reveal that which is true, right and just, or that which comes out of deceit, wrong and unjust motives. James warns believers to beware of what their mouth reveals.

“Behold also the ships,

which though they be so great,

and are driven of fierce winds,

yet are they turned about

with a very small helm,

whithersoever the governor listeth.

5 Even so the tongue

is a little member,

and boasteth great things.

Behold, how great a matter

a little fire kindleth!

6 And the tongue is a fire,

a world of iniquity:

so is the tongue among our members,

that it defileth

the whole body,

and setteth on fire

the course of nature;

and it is set on fire

of hell.

7 For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea,

is tamed,

and hath been tamed of mankind:

8 But the tongue

can no man tame;

it is an unruly evil,

full of deadly poison.

9 Therewith bless we God,

even the Father;

and therewith curse we men,

which are made after the similitude

of God.

10 Out of the same mouth proceedeth

blessing

and cursing.

My brethren,

these things ought not so to be.

11 Doth a fountain

send forth at the same place

sweet water

and bitter?

12 Can the fig tree, my brethren,

bear olive berries?

either a vine,

figs?

so can no fountain both yield

salt water

and fresh.

13 Who is a wise man

and endued with knowledge

among you?

let him shew

out of a good conversation

his works

with meekness

of wisdom.”   James 3:6-13

What does our mouth reveal about our walk with the Lord? It grieves my heart that so many who claim the name of Jesus, and even serve in His kingdom in places of leadership have come to accept that which, as a friend wrote recently, presents the “profane mixed with the holy” (From a post by “WholesomeCommunication@Wholesomecommunication” titled “Setting the Spiritual Table”, I encourage you to check out their Facebook page.) God again and again calls us to “be ye holy, as I am holy”, and His holiness is always pure! Even as James says—our words ought to agree with our profession—do we belong to Jesus, and HE to us? Or do our words defile our testimony? Jesus makes it clear that just “saying so” doesn’t “make it so”! Do our words and actions match The Word of The Lord?

“Wherefore by their fruits

ye shall know them.

21 Not every one that saith unto me,

Lord,

Lord,

shall enter into the kingdom of heaven;

but he that doeth

the will of my Father which is in heaven.

22 Many will say to me in that day,

Lord,

Lord,

have we not prophesied

in thy name?

and

in thy name

have cast out devils?

and

in thy name

done many wonderful works?

23 And then will I profess

unto them,

I never knew you:

depart from me,

ye that work iniquity.”  Matthew 7:20-23

And as Jesus goes on to say—it’s the foundation that is the proof, not just the house that is seen above ground! Who is your foundation? Jesus? Where are you getting your water from? Jesus or the polluted water of the world? It’s your choice, but choose wisely, there is a test at the end.

“Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings

of mine,

and doeth them,

I will liken him unto a wise man,

which built his house

upon a rock:

25 And the rain descended,

and the floods came,

and the winds blew,

and beat upon that house;

and it fell not:

for it was founded upon a rock.

26 And every one that heareth these sayings

of mine,

and doeth them not,

shall be likened unto a foolish man,

which built his house

upon the sand:

27 And the rain descended,

and the floods came,

and the winds blew,

and beat upon that house;

and it fell:

and great was the fall of it.

28 And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine:”   Matthew 7:24-28