The area around the city of Marseilles in the south of France has become noted for its beautiful gardens, but it was not always so. At one time it was an arid region. There is no local water supply, but the requirements of the city flow through a canal from the Durance River, a distance of ninety-seven miles, constructed during the years 1837-1848.
Long before that time there lived in the city a man named Guizon. He was always busy, and seemed to be bent on saving money, both by industry and frugality. His clothing bore evidence of long continued wear. His food was the simplest and cheapest. He lived alone, denying himself the luxuries and even the comforts of ordinary life. He was known in Marseilles as a miser, and although he was honest in all his dealings, and faithful in performing his duties, he was despised by everyone. At the sight of his poorly clad figure on the street the boys would shout after him, “There goes old Skinflint!” He always continued on his way, paying no attention to the abuse directed toward him, and whenever he was addressed he replied in a gentle and patient manner.
Day after day, year after year, as the poor friendless man passed by, to and from his work, he was greeted in the same way. As time went on, with its marks of advancing age, tottering footsteps supported by a cane, his back bent almost double from incessant toil, his hair white as snow, more than eighty years old, Guizon died.
Then it was found that he had amassed, in gold and silver, a huge. fortune. Among other papers was his will, containing this paragraph, “I was once poor, and I observed that the people of Marseilles suffered extremely for the want of pure water. Having no family, I have devoted my life to the saving of a sum of money sufficient to build an aqueduct to supply the poor of the city of Marseilles with pure water, so that the poorest may have a full supply.” Friendless, despised, alone, he lived and died, in order to accomplish this noble object for the benefit of those who so misunderstood and mistreated him.
There was another Man in an eastern land who was once misunderstood, “despised and rejected of men.” (Isaiah 53:3). His life, too, was one of voluntary poverty, so abject that He had not even a place to lay His head. “Though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that ye through His poverty might be rich” (2 Corinthians 8:9). Yet such was the ill-will against this meek and lowly Man that the people actually clamored for His death, “Crucify Him, crucify Him.” (Luke 23:21) Restraining His power, He yielded Himself to their will and was taken by wicked hands, crucified, and slain. As He hung on the cross all that saw Him laughed Him to scorn, shooting out the lip and shaking the head; they gaped upon Him with their mouths; they looked and stared upon Him — (Psalm 22:7,13,17). “He was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification” (Romans 4:25).
Guizon’s will provided for fresh water for all the poor of Marseilles; but the Lord Jesus Christ by His death and resurrection, has provided for every man, woman and child of Adam’s race who will come to Him and drink, a satisfying supply of the water of life which shall never fail through time or eternity.
The river of His grace,
Through righteousness supplied,
Is flowing o’er the barren place
Where Jesus died.
The water of life is flowing today and we may drink freely, “without money and without price” (Isaiah 55:1). “Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters” (Isaiah 55:1). “If any man thirst, let him come unto Me, and drink” (John 7:37). “He that believeth on Me shall never thirst” (John 6:35). “Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely” (Revelation 22:17).