Have you ever been so thirsty that you feel like you could drink an entire bottle of water in about 30 seconds? The funny thing about quenching thirst is that at some point, you’re going to be thirsty again. No matter how much water you drink, or how fast you drink it, quenching your thirst is only temporary. One day beside a well, Jesus used this analogy to help a woman understand how she could have everlasting life. He 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.”

You see, only Jesus can give you water that will quench your thirst forever and give to you eternal life. At this point, you might be asking, “why do I need this living water?” Well, we learn from God’s Word that we are all sinners (we do things that are against the law of God), and that we inherited this sin nature from Adam.

Romans 5:12-14 ¹² Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: ¹³ (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law. ¹⁴ Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression …

1 John 3:4 ⁴ Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.

God gave us His law to reveal our sin. No matter how hard we try, we cannot keep the whole law of God. Breaking only one part of the law is the same as breaking the entire law.

Romans 7:7 ⁷ What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.

James 2:10 ¹⁰ For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.

The Bible explains that as sinners (those who do not know God), we will be punished.

2 Thessalonians 1:8-9 ⁸ In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: ⁹ Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;

This is where the reality of God’s love comes in. You see, as sinners, we all deserve to be punished. But because God loves us, He made a way for us to know Him, and escape that punishment. The Bible tells us that God made only one way … through His son Jesus Christ. Jesus gave his life so that everyone would have the opportunity to know God and experience forgiveness and eternal life.

John 14:6 ⁶ Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Romans 5:8-9 ⁸ But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. ⁹ Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.

Romans 5:15-21 ¹⁵ But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. ¹⁶ And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification. ¹⁷ For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) ¹⁸ Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. ¹⁹ For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. ²⁰ Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: ²¹ That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.

Did you notice what it says in Romans 5:15? It states that eternal life through Jesus Christ is a “free gift.” Did you know that there is nothing you can do to earn God’s forgiveness? Notice what the Bible says about salvation.

Ephesians 2:4-9 ⁴ But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, ⁵ Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) ⁶ And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: ⁷ That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. ⁸ For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: ⁹ Not of works, lest any man should boast.

It is by faith in Christ, and by this alone, that we are saved from the punishment we deserve. The amazing thing is, God made it so simple to experience His love and forgiveness. We must simply receive the free gift of salvation that He has offered to us.

John 1:12 ¹² But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

Romans 10:9-10 ⁹ That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. ¹⁰ For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Romans 10:13 ¹³ For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

God made it that simple. Call on His name. Tell Him that you understand that you deserve to be punished for your sin, and that you know you stand in need of a Savior, who is Jesus Christ. Tell Him that you are, right now, placing your faith in Jesus. Don’t wait … even a few minutes from now may be too late. We don’t know when our lives may end, and we don’t know when Jesus will come again to call out those who are His children. If your life ends without receiving Christ, you will experience eternal punishment. Today is the day of salvation. If you have received Jesus Christ as your Savior, please let us know. We want to help you get started in your walk with the Lord! Email us at lmbc@lmbc.org or call us (304) 736-7676 or 1-800-691-LMBC.