Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” - John 4:13-14
The other wells won’t satisfy, Jesus promised us that. The hidden danger lies in this: the other wells don’t actually run dry, at least not immediately. Jesus does explain that He is the Source of the only water that will well up eternally, equating to the fact that the two types of wells are not in likeness here. Unfortunately for now, the other wells are still drawing water, even water that appears pleasing to taste.
The flesh is circling the other wells, thirsting for a drink. The truth is, the water that springs up from them doesn’t even taste good. I didn’t know this until the height of the pandemic, but some sicknesses can actually change your taste. This was one of the most prevalent symptoms of covid, also one of the scariest. The sickness called sin has shriveled up my spirit. My taste isn’t the same. Abiding doesn’t feel joyful when my portion of the branch is bearing thorns, not fruit. Stillness can’t be pleasing when boredom’s coat has yet to be stripped away.
The other wells are a dangerous place to linger. I wonder what I’m doing even around them, for I know what my God has to say about these places. As I’m nearing the water that’s growing even murkier, it’s not enough to simply be a hearer of His word. The other wells are tempting, enticing even. Weakness cups its hands around my eyes to withhold the escape to the promised land, a land that flows of milk and honey. Yet the flesh eyes are desperate to behold even more of its own poison.
“For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” - Galatians 6:8-9
I’m drawing from the bitter wells and drinking of my own weariness because my search is in all the wrong places. The other wells may not yet be running dry, but they will surely not delay to run you dry. The water is pleasing to the eye, maybe even to taste. Once this water becomes all you know, you begin to lose knowledge of the greater delight that once was. By losing the adoration you once had, you will start to believe that this is the best it gets and helplessly give up of doing good. As the flesh is being fed, my spirit is thirsting. Now that my spirit is thirsting, my soul can’t help but faint.
Some people in the church are experiencing Jesus, others are totally missing His presence. It’s simply an attention thing. I’m burdened as I notice that this same thing has slowly soaked into my time in the secret place. Now it’s pouring over. The flesh says to keep indulging, you’ll be fed for a moments time. Continue to scroll your way into the black hole of social media, your addicted heart will find comfort. Keep your eyes set on distraction, your gaze will be satisfied for a time that is fleeting. Give in to laziness, you will enter a figurative rest. The flesh is getting puffed up until soon, it’s going to explode. Delight in idleness, though time after time you will watch it refrain from being delightful.
“Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work.” - John 4:34
The heart of the Father holds what actually leads to life. His will nourishes. He is the Sustainer of the soul, the Provider of what is plentiful, the only Source of what will never run dry. My soul longs and in His hands, it is satisfied. To delight in the Lord, abide in Him, draw from His well; it’s all the same language, I believe equal parts secular and spiritual. It’s a Holy invitation, but it’s not too complicated for flesh and blood to grab hold of. The Kindness of His word makes it clear. If Jesus never speaks another revelation to me again, I’m still saved by the blood of the lamb and the word of my testimony, that is Jesus himself. The other wells I draw from won’t cease to draw from me, but in His presence He offers life, and life abundantly. The eternal well is still here, still flowing with living water. The invitation to draw from Him remains.