ALICE, a dear twelve year old girl, was lying sick, and apparently the Lord Jesus would soon take her to Himself. But death did not terrify her, for she had learned to trust her Saviour. Some time ago she had in childlike faith given her heart to Him, and the thought soon to be with Him filled her heart with deep, deep joy.
One afternoon, not long before her departure for home, a young man, with whom she was well acquainted, visited her. This man was still among those that are “without hope,” and he was entirely indifferent with regard to his precious soul. Like so many young people, he sought his satisfaction in the amusements of this poor world. As William (that was the young man’s name) entered the sick room, and had taken a seat by the bed, the mother just left the room. Alice was very weak, and as she saw her young friend, she asked him for a drink of water. William carefully handed her a glass of water, but before she drank it, she looked at him in such a way, that it went deep in his soul, and said: “Whosoever drinketh of this water, shall thirst again, but whosoever drinketh of the water that the Lord Jesus gives shall never in all eternity thirst. Have you drunk of that water, William?” As she had said this, she drank the water, and laid herself back on the pillow, and closed her eyes. An unpleasant feeling crept over William in her presence, and he soon found an excuse to leave—but this look and those words, he could not forget. A few days later Alice went into the heavenly rest. But for William there was no more rest. Whenever he saw a glass of water those words sounded in his ears:— “Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again.” Oh, how well he knew that! His soul longed deeply for a drink of living water. Still day after day he sought for new amusements, thereby to quench the burning thirst—but in vain—his misery grew worse and worse. At last the Lord in grace met this poor thirsty soul, and William drank of the “living water,” and found then full satisfaction in his Saviour’s love.
My dear reader! Have you felt this thirst in your soul? Has a longing desire, which earthly things cannot satisfy also made itself known in your soul? Oh, haste then also to Jesus! He only is able fully to satisfy the heart! Whosoever drinketh of the water the Lord Jesus gives, shall “never thirst.” (John 4:14; 6:3514But 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 4:14)
35And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. (John 6:35).) Earthly joys deceive. Sooner or later they will all prove to be vanity. After their enjoyment there is still thirst. But the water the Lord Jesus gives shall be a fountain of water unto “life everlasting” in us. And to every thirsty one this water is offered freely: “And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the wafer of life freely.” (Rev. 22:1717And 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. (Revelation 22:17))
ML 02/23/1902