Good News from
a Far Country
Proverbs 25:25 As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good
news from a far country.
1. Consider first what it means to thirst:
Contrast bodily and spiritual thirst:
Do we know what it is like to be thirsty? Probably few of us Americans know what it is like to be really thirsty, or to be near the point of dying from thirst. We most always have something to drink close at hand.
Thirst is a natural sensation caused from a loss of life sustaining water. God put the sense of thirst within us so that we would know when our bodies were low on water and needed replenished. Our bodies depend on water for physical life, and therefore when we are low on water we automatically begin to thirst. So the sense of thirst is a blessing of God. It is as a warning devise that God has built into our bodies; like an oil light on a car. The thirst of the soul for Jesus is also a great blessing of God. Do you have a thirst for Jesus? If so, praise the Lord, you shall be filled! Do you crave Him in your soul? Praise the Lord, this is the warning light of your soul, that tells you that you need Jesus or you will spiritually die the second death!
Natural thirst is intensified by the labor and exercise of the body, especially in the heat of the day, and in the hot sun. The sensation of thirst starts in the mouth and tongue, and then moves down to the throat and into the stomach. It goes to the mind and thoughts, which are soon consumed with the unquenchable desire for water. The body and mind begin to grow weary and faint. The anguish of spirit is intensified by the conditions of being lost and stranded in a dry, parched land, without any assurance of ever finding water. It is further intensified by the mirages and hallucinations of springs and fresh water pools, to only find these are nothing more than dry bowls of dust. Bodily thirst is even further aggravated by the mockery of mud holes and pools of foul and bitter water that cannot be consumed because they are foul and poisonous.
Spiritual thirst is intensified by the labor of sin and the heavy laden condition of sinners as they wonder about lost in this spiritually dry and barren evil world of sin. Spiritual thirst starts in the mind and heart and works its way into the conscience and then into the subconscious where you are consumed with fears of dying and spending eternity in everlasting hell. The anguish of spiritual thirst is increasingly intensified by the realization of one’s helplessly lost condition with no hope of ever finding the much needed spiritual water for the soul. Spiritual thirst is further aggravated by mirages of false hopes and the poisonous water and false doctrines of men and of devils that prove to be deadly poison to the soul.
Consider
how Jesus thirsted on the cross:
Psalm 22:14 I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels. 15 My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death.
John 19:28 After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst. 29 Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a spunge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth. 30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.
Jesus thirsted on the cross, both spiritually and physically, like no other man has thirsted, so that His people would have right to drink of the well of salvation, and the fountain of living water.
Spiritual
thirst:
Thirst
For salvation:
Isaiah 55:1 Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.
-Who is thirsty today for salvation? Who wants to be saved? Who can see their need for Jesus? The water is free, but who will come and take of the waters of salvations?
John 7:37 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.
-Who is thirsty today? Who wants to be saved? Who can see their need to come unto Jesus and drink from the well of salvation?
Thirst
for the presence of God and the blessings of the Lord (speaking to the saved):
Psalms 42:1 As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. 2 My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?
Psalms 63:1 A Psalm of David: O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;
Psalms 143:6 I stretch forth my hands unto thee: my soul thirsteth after thee, as a thirsty land. Selah.
Is this us this morning, we who are saved? Do we come to the house of God thirsting for His presence; thirsting for His blessings; thirsting for Him to speak to our hearts through His Word?
2. Consider secondly the substance thirsted
for:
Cold
water (Read our text):
Proverbs 25:25 As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.
Nothing can satisfy thirst but water. Most liquids that we drink are mostly water, whatever else they may contain. But when we are very thirsty, nothing will satisfy our thirst like pure, cold water. This is what our bodies need. This is what our bodies are lacking. This is what our bodies are craving. Only water will replenish and rejuvenate that which our bodies require for life.
Jesus
the water of life:
Jesus is that pure water of eternal life. We receive of Him through the water of the Word of God, and the Holy Spirit of God, which also is likened to water in the Scriptures. Only Jesus can satisfy the need of our souls. Jesus is what our spirits are lacking when we come into this world. Jesus is what our souls are craving. Only Jesus can replenish and rejuvenate our souls! Are you thirsty for Jesus this morning? Take of this water and you’ll never thirst for salvation again!
The
Water of Life is good news from a far county:
Luke 2:11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
Galatians 4:4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, 5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
1 Timothy 1:15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.
3. Consider thirdly the satisfaction of
receiving the needed substance:
John 4:13 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 7:38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
When Jesus fills your soul with the water of life, the need of your soul is satisfied. He puts within your heart a spring of living water as it were, which springs up as a fountain of joy and spiritual blessings that shall never be diminished nor ever dry up. The thirst and craving and emptiness of you soul shall be filled and satisfied. Yes, you will be satisfied with Jesus.
4. Consider fourthly those that bear the much
needed substance:
Romans 10:15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
Revelation 22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.
Thank God for those who bear the water of life to a thirsty and dying world of lost sinners; for those who herald the good news of Jesus; who show you the fountain of grace; who point you to that fountain of living water; who lead you to the foot of the cross where by faith you may see Jesus, dying there to give you the water of life freely. Do you see Him this morning?
Conclusion:
Is your soul thirsty for Jesus this morning?
Come, and take of the water of life freely. Come by faith to the cross of Calvary and see Jesus there thirsting upon the cross for you, so that you won’t have to thirst spiritually any more. Believe that Jesus died there on that cross for your sins, that He was buried, and that He rose again in three days for your salvation and eternal life. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved. Believe on Jesus and out of your heart and life will flow rivers of living waters. Out of your heart will flow the joy of salvation.
As a Christian, is your soul thirsty for the blessings of the Lord in your life? Has your life seemed spiritually barren and dry? Return to the sweet fountain of fellowship with the Lord and He will satisfy the desires of your soul.