Our metropolitan neighbor, Toledo, has survived an emergency crisis. Due to the contamination of Lake Erie, the city water was undrinkable. Through a combination of chemical runoff, the shallow Lake Erie, and the summer sun, algae reached an unsafe level and the water treatment plant couldn’t keep the toxins out of the water.
This crisis affected over 400,000 citizens, including my son, Justin. He called Saturday morning to see if he could stop by and get some bottled water and take a shower (at the time, citizens were warned of even touching the water). We were on our way back from southern Ohio and picked up 5 gallons and 3 cases of water for him.
Shane Gaghen of Oregon holds a glass of algae filled Lake Erie water, near the Toledo water intake crib.
The Toledo news had nonstop coverage of the event. Businesses and restaurants were forced to close. Long lines formed to pick up donated drinking water. Neighboring communities with safe drinking water were opening their faucets for any visitors.
Now that the immediate crisis is over (the water is safe to drink) I want to share a Bible verse and some comments.
“In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.“(John 7:37-38)
1. Everybody needs water.
I know it is important, but I did not realize how vital clean water is to our community. Without it, we would not survive. Not just for drinking, but for cleaning. That’s why the water crisis in Toledo was so alarming.
In the same way, everybody needs Jesus. Jesus’ statement that anyone who thirsted could come to Him was an invitation to everybody – all of us. Regardless of what a person has done or who they are, they are all welcome to take Him into their life. Jesus will quench the thirst that is down in your soul. Blaise Pascal said, “There is a God shaped vacuum in the heart of every man which cannot be filled by any created thing, but only by God, the Creator, made known through Jesus.”
2. Bad water is dangerous.
The health department in Toledo warned people that flu-like symptoms and possible liver damage would result from drinking the contaminated water. The danger was that people would get so thirsty and either not know of the ban or drink the water anyway. When you’re thirsty, even dirty water is tempting.
Sailors have an old saying, “Water, water, everywhere, but not a drop to drink.” This is a reminder to a thirsty sailor on the salty ocean, that though he is surrounded by water, don’t drink it. But tragically, history is filled with people whose thirst forced them to drink bad water.
While Jesus is the clean water that refreshes the thirsty soul, there are many voices in our world that claim to quench your spiritual thirst, but end in destruction. In our search for peace, joy, happiness, fulfillment and love people often turn to sex, alcohol, drugs, money, and false religions. These will never satisfy the inner thirst that only Jesus can fulfill. Rather than help, these can entrap us and destroy us and those we love.
3. Water needs to be shared with the thirsty.
Through this weekend in Toledo we have discovered the kindness and generosity of people. I’m sure some had underlying motives, but I was encouraged by the stories of businesses, communities, churches, and everyday citizens who gave their time, money and water to those who needed help. After Justin picked up the water we bought him and headed back to Toledo, his Facebook post read: “If you need some agua (water), come stop by our house. We’ll give ya some for free. For real.”
That’s what friends do. They share what they have with others in need.
Jesus even emphasized this in his parable. When a person’s spiritual thirst is quenched by Jesus, he will never thirst like that again. And out of his life will flow rivers of water to others to help quench their thirst. For the Christian, Jesus is to be like a river flowing into us and out of us to others. Maybe that is why some Christians become so critical and mean. Rather than a stream of clean water they become a pool of stagnant, polluted water.
The next time you reach for a bottle of water, remember that Jesus is the water that quenches your deep, down thirst. Share Him with others.