Living Waters

One in three people on our planet does not have access to safe drinking water. Can you imagine living without clean water to quench your thirst?

The Bible tells us that Jesus, the Lamb, will lead His people to “fountains of waters,” a source that never runs dry, never stops producing, and sustains a population too numerous to be counted. This is the fulfillment of Christ’s promise to the Samaritan woman He met at the well: “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 4:14). These “living fountains of waters” is the eternal life given to us through Christ. It is only fitting that the Lamb, who came down to dwell among the flock as one of them, is also the One who “will shepherd them.”

Repeatedly, we see a parallel between this description and the final chapters of Revelation: “It is done!” (21:6). Jesus will cry out at the creation of the new heaven and the new earth, “I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts” (21:6). We then learn that these “living” waters, this “water of life,” is a river that flows straight “from the throne of God and of the Lamb” (22:1). God is the actual Source of the water; He is the true Water of Life.

And the Giver of the Water of Life is aptly the same One who takes away all the suffering that comes with death. Again, we see this repeated in the closing chapters: “And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away” (21:4).

This scene of the “great multitude” (7:9) is a vision of that great and future day when our old world of sin will end and all God’s people will receive their lifelong citizenship in paradise.

Precious Redeemer, I claim Your promise, “Bread will be given him, his water will be sure” (Isaiah 33:16). Thank You for satisfying the deepest longings of my heart.

For Further Study: Isaiah 25:8; Jeremiah 2:13; Micah 5:4

Key Bible Texts

For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes. (Revelation 7:17 KJV)