LIVING SPRINGS | AdventAI

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Mountain View, California · Feb 27, 1907

LIVING SPRINGS.

"AND thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not." This is God's assurance to His church if His church will yield to His way, His truth, His life.

LIKE almost every mountainous or hilly country, Palestine abounded with springs. Some of these were wet-weather fountains of water. After the abundant early and latter rains they flowed full and strong. The beasts of the field, the shepherds with their flocks, the weary traveler, all came to them to quench their thirst and to obtain water. After a few weeks' experience, the shepherds and flocks came to love some spring with its abundant flow, and when in its vicinity depended upon its waters. But the long drought of summer comes, verdure fades and dies. The hills become sere and brown. The dust lies thick in the highways. The thirsty, bleating flocks long for water. The dusty traveler and thirsty herdsman bethink them of the flowing spring from which they quaffed a few weeks before. They hasten to drink again from its cool, welling depths. They reach it, weary and worn, thirsty and fevered; but alas, its waters have failed, or as the margin intimates, lied; the spring is dry.

BUT there are other springs. The wet season affects their flow but little. They are not always the largest, most abundant fountains; but away down from the depths well up the cool waters, ever the same. They have tapped the fountains of far-off Lebanon, or, perhaps, the more distant snow-capped Hermon; and they never fail, never deceive.

WHAT likeness are these springs to two classes of religious professors! One class in time of fair weather, revival services, pleasing environments, make loud boastings. They seem to be fountains of water, having abundant supplies. But when the spiritual droughts come, when companions fall away, friends prove false, scoffers scoff and mockers mock, or some professed Christian disappoints them, or their own estimated ability is not recognized, they fail. Men come to them for help and life and cheer, but find nothing but drought and barrenness.

PRAISE God, there is another class. They make no boast; for they feel they have naught of which to boast. They feel that their ability is small, their talents few, their work of little importance. But they are constant. Go to them when we will, and they are ever faithful friends and honest counselors. Meet what trials they may, they are steadfast. The burning drought of summer licks up moisture, but they flow full. The burdened sinner is pointed to the Lamb of God who taketh away sins. The word of God is opened as the guide book and comforter. Jesus Christ is set before us as the fountain of life to all who believe. Said Jesus: "He that believeth on Me, as the scripture hath said, from within him shall flow rivers of living water." God would not flood with abundant life His children alone. They must use it for others, else they die. If they let flow thru themselves to others God's love and life and power and sweetness, their own heart enlarges, they demand larger draughts of life, and the great perennial Fountain sends forth larger supplies. Jesus said: "I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." The reception of the abundant life in Christ Jesus makes the "living fountains," the springs whose waters fail not.