Pure Water

The most polluted rivers in the world have a few things in common: They are located beside large numbers of people and have poor waste management systems. One river near the top of the list is the Ganges River in India. Yet, while full of industrial and human waste, it’s considered sacred because it is believed that its waters can cleanse people from sin.

Unlike the polluted rivers on earth, the apostle John is shown “a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb.” This is not the first time in Scripture that such a river is described. The home of our first parents had “a river” that “went out of Eden to water the garden” that God had planted (Genesis 2:10).

Old Testament prophets described a river flowing from God’s throne. Ezekiel was shown healing waters flowing from God’s temple (47:1–12). Joel foretells that “a fountain shall flow from the house of the LORD” (3:18). Zechariah describes “living waters” flowing from Jerusalem (14:1).

John wrote about the living water when documenting Jesus speaking to the Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well: “Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life” (John 4:13, 14). Jesus is the true source of eternal life.

Explorers of the past searched for the sources of great rivers in our world, but the first, the purest, and the greatest river that brings everlasting life comes from the throne of God. Earth’s tributaries are tainted. Only through Jesus can we find pure water that will cleanse us from sin.

The invitation of heaven is still available to all: “Ho! Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters” (Isaiah 55:1). The call is given again at the end of Revelation: “And the Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come!’ And let him who hears say, ‘Come!’ And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely” (Revelation 22:17).

Jesus, I come to drink of the water of life. Thank you for offering Your life so that I may never thirst again.

For Further Study: Psalm 36:8; Proverbs 18:4; John 7:37–39

Key Bible Texts

And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. (Revelation 22:1 KJV)