WHAT ARE YOU THIRSTY FOR?
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Isaiah 55:1 |
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Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come buy wine and milk without money and without price. KJV |
Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. NIV |
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Psalm 42:1-2 |
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As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after Thee, O God. My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God… KJV |
As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for You, my God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God… NIV |
Have you ever asked yourself what are you thirsty for? What do you pant after? Is it a new house, or a new car or is it that high paid job you have been searching for? It has been said that what you don’t feel the need of or thirst for, you will never pant after.
In the Gospel of Luke (19:2-6) we read of a man called Zacchaeus who was thirsty for reality, not riches. Riches, as far as he was concerned did not satisfy, nor did ease of living which accompanied riches satisfy him. He had reached the top of the ladder. He was Chief. He was Chief among the Publicans, and he found that being at the top was a lonely place. There was no peace.
Many men and women spend years striving after the top position only to find that there is no tranquillity for the person at the top. Few reach the top with a clear conscience. On the way up, there are many bumps and potholes for the position of praise, even the envy of fellow workers, because let’s face it, the position at the top would be nothing without these. The deep-down feeling is of wanting to be in the limelight and having people pay attention to what you are doing and how great you are at your job. The backbiting and back-stabbing are par for the course and part of the struggle where the tough and the ruthless win! The survival of the fittest is what it’s all about.
Sadly though, few consider with supreme naïvety that when the top has been reached man will be satisfied. He thirsted after the position for so long. He panted for the glory of the winning post and yet it did not bring the satisfaction all men and women crave.
The same happened to Zacchaeus, he thought that if he climbed the tree, he could see Jesus. Just to catch a glimpse of Him, that is all he wanted, what he would be satisfied with, and yet little did he know that it was not just seeing Jesus, it was knowing Him that would bring wonderful satisfaction. But again, it is not just knowing, but what knowing does.
He had looked down on so many in his life – he was the chief and now in order to see he had to look down on the One to whom forever after he will look up.
He will see a life that is the exact opposite of his own. He will see One who restored that which He took not away. Although Zacchaeus had to restore that which he took away from the people in the way of taxes, he would only do that:
- when he had a new heart,
- when he was satisfied,
- when he had come to the waters,
- when the well of life was within and
- when he had succeeded in finding the One who alone can satisfy the longing soul with good things.
- Then and only then would he know true satisfaction.
- Then and only then would he be as the hart that panted and found that for which it had longed.
- Then and only then that the sweet cool, crystal waters of life would bring joy unspeakable and full of glory.
- Then and only then would he be saved.
- Saved from ambition,
- Saved from climbing,
- Saved from envying,
- Saved from sin and
- Saved from self,
- Saved for time and eternity.
- Saved for God and glory.
Then and only then could he say: MY SOUL IS SATISFIED!
A.M. Ross