Tag: Eternal Life

Fence Post Devotionals “The Gospel of John Cowboy Style”

Waterfall, Idaho

Living Well of Water 

“Jesus wanted her to understand. ‘Folks who drink this water will get thirsty again and again,’ He said. “The water I give has nothin’ to do with this well. Anyone who drinks My water will never have to be thirsty again in his soul, like you are right now. Ya see, the water I give will be like an everlastin’ spring that will take you right on through this life and the next” John 4:13-14 (The Gospel of John Cowboy Style). 

Have you ever seen an artesian water well? Years ago, in the Ozark Mountains of Arkansas, I saw what my kin folks explained was an artesian well. What I saw was water bubbling up and flowing through the crevices of a rock. And from that life-giving flow my Arkansas relatives obtained all the water supply they needed to maintain their daily activities.  

What John described in the fourth chapter of John was not an artesian well, but rather a hand-dug well. In fact, it was historically famous, having been dug centuries earlier by the Hebrew patriarch Jacob.  And through the years Jabob’s well faithfully supplied water for the region; particularly now for Sychar, a little Samaritan village that was close by the well.  

The story’s focus in the fourth chapter of John centers around that well. Scripture says that Jesus, after a journey, had set there to rest. He was alone, having sent His disciples into town to buy lunch. It was then that a woman, the Woman of Samaria, had come to draw water.  

At this ancient well, about noon, a conversation begins; a conversation just between the two of them: the woman of Samaria, an outcast of the village and Jesus, the sinless Son of God. One cannot imagine a more profound difference between two people, but perhaps that is the very reason Jesus is here, at this place to visit with this very woman and this very particular time.  

The subject of the conversation begins with water. After all, they are at a water well, and it is the water in that well that comes immediately to her mind when Jesus asks for a drink. But Jesus has a different source in mind when He promises water that will forever and eternally satisfy her thirst: “If you knew . . . who it is who ways to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water” (John 4:10).  

Water in the Bible is symbolic of the Holy Spirit. Jesus was not talking about ordinary water, like that which could be drawn from Jacob’s Well. Rather, He was speaking about a living well of water drawn from the very heart of Almighty God.  

Ordinary water may satisfy for the moment, but the living water of God fills up our souls from the continuous flow that never ends. Like an artesian well, God’s abundant flow of abundant and abiding life will satisfy our needs now and forever throughout all eternity.  

That “Living water” satisfied the deep needs of the Samaritan Woman and eventually because of her testimony every soul in the village of Sychar as well. And it will satisfy your needs, too.  

Jesus said, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink” (John 7:37). 

Are you thirsty? Come to Jesus and He will give you “Living Water” 

Fence Post Devotionals “The Gospel of John Cowboy Style”

The Resurrection and the Life

“Then Jesus did sure ‘nough proclaim to Miss Martha. He said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life; anyone who believes in Me will live even when he dies’” (John 11:25).

I can tell you exactly where I was standing and what I was doing when the full meaning of that verse hit me: It just plain ol’ dawned on me that a genuine born-again Christian will never die! Listen to what Jesus is saying to Martha . . .

“Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die” (John 11:25-26).

Lazarus, a personal friend of Jesus, has died and Jesus has come to visit Mary and Martha, Lazarus’ sisters to console them. But, He has come to do more than comfort. He has come to show them His glory and authority over death.

He says it very plainly to Martha, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me . . . shall never die.” Then in order to demonstrate that to Martha and those standing by, He walks to the tomb of Lazarus and with His authoritative voice of power over death demands Lazarus to come out of the grave.

You see, the resurrection and life is not just a doctrine; it is a person. Jesus is the resurrection and the life. Isn’t that incredible? When we believe and receive the Lord Jesus Christ as personal savior, we through His Divine power and authority overcome death and the grave. “He who believes in Jesus shall never die.”

So, dear Christian friend, when the day comes that you close your eyes in death, be assured that it is just your old decaying body that is buried; not your soul. Your soul is raised to be with Jesus in His heavenly home for time without end. (John 14:3)

“Think of stepping on shore and finding it heaven,

Think of taking hold of a hand and finding it God’s,

Think of breathing new air and finding it celestial,

Think of feeling invigorated and finding it immortality,

Think of passing through tempest to a new and unknown calm,

Think of waking up well and finding it home.”

                                         Don Wytzen

Fence Post Devotional “The Gospel of John Cowboy Style”

Painting by Jeff Segler

An Appointment to Keep

“Jesus figured it was gettin’ ‘bout time to move on to Galilee. So He cleared on out of Judea for the time bein’. He was of a mind to follow the trail through Samaria, so they lit out” John 4:3-4 (“The Gospel of John Cowboy Style”).

When Jesus and His disciples left Judea to travel to Galilee, John made this interesting note of His traveling plans: “He was of a mind to follow the trail through Samaria.” The KJV has it, “He must needs go through Samaria.”

There were other routes to Galilee other than through Samaria, But Jesus determined, “He must needs go through Samaria.” Some orthodox Jews determined not to go through Samaria. But Jesus, Himself being a Jew had no such reservations. He said, “I must needs go through Samaria.”

But why go through Samaria? Well, the simple answer is, Jesus had an appointment to keep; an appointment that was made in eternity past, even before the foundations of the world were laid. She didn’t know it, but Jesus did. He must go through Samaria,  meet with a woman at an ancient well and offer her the gift of a lifetime, “Living Water” so she would never thirst again.

Did you know that Jesus has made an appointment with you? And like with the woman of Samaria, He offers you the most wonderful gift of all, “A well of water springing up to eternal life” (John 4:10).

And here is the amazing thing. He makes the appointment. He must needs find you. The woman of Samaria was at a well. I was in my backyard. It really doesn’t matter where you are. With overwhelming love He searches for you and finds you. And like with the “Woman of Samaria,” He offers to you the gift of eternal life.

Yam Sing, when presenting himself for membership in a Bible believing Church was asked by the Pastor, “How did you find Jesus?” Answered in his broken English, “I no find Jesus at all, He find Me.”