What did Jesus mean when He said, “but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life” (John 4:14 NIV)?
To be lasting, our satisfaction must come from this source. Our Lord did not find satisfaction in the flattery of men. He said, “I do not accept praise from men” (John 5:51 NIV).
He neither expected nor received the vain insincere glory of men, the result being that He was never disappointed. If we drink from the water of earthly friendship, expecting friends, relative, and others to satisfy, we will always thirst again.
But if we rejoice only in what God has provided, be it house, friends, food, or other things, we are able to be satisfied with God. Any change of circumstances would not bring us into disappointment and discouragement.
Why then do we not have a satisfied life? Why are we discouraged in our disappointments? It is because we have great expectations from the wrong source – from the world, rather than totally from the Lord.
When we fail to get what we expect to satisfy us, we are discouraged. We must remember that Christianity is not all gain. There are losses to be sustained.
Paul said, “What things were gain to me, I counted loss for Christ.” However much you resist what comes from the world will determine how much you enjoy the riches of the Lord.
There was nothing in our Lord’s environment that contributed anything to Him. “He grew up before Him as a tender plant and as a root out of dry ground.” The world had nothing with which to help Him. He received full satisfaction from God the Father.
Why do some Christians sense satisfaction from knowing the Lord and others do not? It is because there are other waters that we drink of and thirst again. Yet when the earthly springs dry up, we still have the waters that He gives.
We will always be satisfied with Him. A story is told about the devil going out of business. He had all his tools for sale. Surprisingly, the most worn tool had the highest price tag on it. He was asked, “Why is this tool priced the highest, when it is the most used of all the others?”
He replied, “This tool is discouragement! When all other tools fail, this one will succeed. Therefore, it is the most expensive!”
Judging from the circumstances the Lord faced in His earthly life, He could have been discouraged or even despondent many times, yet He never was. He kept His eyes upon the goal that He came to accomplish.
It was not an earthly goal, for as Daniel prophesied, “He shall be cut off and have nothing” (Dan. 9:27 ASV).
It was a complete forfeit, yet it gained Him everything. As Isaiah foretold, after the suffering of His soul, he would be satisfied (Isa. 53:11 NIV). The suffering of His soul accomplished the rebirth of many sons into Glory. This is His satisfaction now and will be for eternity.
Paul asked, “What is it that we live for, that gives us hope and joy and is our proud reward and crown? It is you! Yes, you will bring us much joy as we stand together before our Lord Jesus Christ when He comes back again. For you are our trophy and our joy” (1 Thess. 2:19-20 TLB).
He saw the accomplishments of His mission to earth. He became the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before Him. He endured the cross and is seated at the right hand of God. He saw the suffering of His soul and is satisfied.
And so shall we be content as we accomplish our earthly goal for His glory. At the end of the journey the lives that we have influenced for God will rise up to call us blessed.
What joy, what satisfaction will fill our hearts! When we see the suffering of our souls, we too will be satisfied. This is the source of our encouragement.
Power Principles for Power Living by Dwight Thompson
All rights reserved. Used by permission.
Dwight Thompson has become one of the most powerful evangelists of our time. Known worldwide for his legendary ability to captivate and move an audience, he has devoted his ministry to touching the lives of all those who are lost and hurting with a message of hope, found through salvation and deliverance in Jesus Christ.
The elements that make his message unforgettable include humor, compassion, deeply rooted Biblical convictions, and unique ways of illustrating the meaning of Scriptural phrases, parables, and promises.
Dwight has traveled around the world as an evangelist, preaching to millions and leading thousands of lost souls to Jesus Christ. His crusades frequently launch long-lasting revivals. With his ability to communicate the Gospel with power and charisma, he touches countless lives.
Dwight and Zonelle have been married for 51 years and have two children, seven grandchildren, and one great-grandchild. Zonelle travels nation-wide with Dwight, and she is the founder of Operation STITCHES (Saving The Inner-city Through Christ’s Hope: Eternal Salvation), an outreach to inner-city children and their families.
God has given both Dwight and Zonelle a divine love for souls. He has created within the two of them an obsession for helping people transform their very existence.
Dwight and Zonelle know the worth of just one soul and are committed to continue being obedient to the calling God placed on them over 49 years ago.
Truly, Dwight Thompson is a man with a call on his life and a commitment in his heart to reach lost souls for Jesus Christ.