Thirsty Hope
He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life.Revelation 21:6
Blessed is the woman or man who has at least one friend in life who says what they mean and who means what they say-whose word is gold and whose timetable is Swiss. When they say, “Consider it done!”, you’re already “going to the bank” ’cause you can bank on anything they say. Actually, the only friend that completely fills that bill is Jesus, “the friend who sticks closer than a brother.” This is why it is safe to be thirsty with Jesus.
The bold affirmation, “It is done!”, concerning all the coming goodness, grace and glory of the new heaven and new earth just described in Revelation 21:1-5, is backed up by the triumphant resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ! Today, he is saying to each of us, “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades. (Rev 1:17-18)
We should be increasingly thirsty for two things Jesus alone can slake. First of all, we should allow ourselves to be VERY thirsty with the hope of the new heaven and new earth. We will NEVER experience “bait and switch” with Jesus. What Jesus has promised, he will deliver. “It’s a done deal!” Your secured future will be a “kazillion” times worth anything/everything your broken present may have involve. Groan inwardly and wait eagerly for the Day Jesus returns to finish making all things new. Risk that kind of hope. You will not be disappointed!
We should be increasingly thirsty for two things Jesus alone can slake. First of all, we should allow ourselves to be VERY thirsty with the hope of the new heaven and new earth. We will NEVER experience “bait and switch” with Jesus. What Jesus has promised, he will deliver. “It’s a done deal!” Your secured future will be a “kazillion” times worth anything/everything your broken present may have involve. Groan inwardly and wait eagerly for the Day Jesus returns to finish making all things new. Risk that kind of hope. You will not be disappointed!
Secondly, we should allow ourselves to be increasingly thirsty with respect to our sin and brokenness. That’s right, I’m talking about heart-engaging grace-requiring vulnerability. With whom are you absolutely honest about the mess that you are? Who knows your “tares,” terrors and tears? Who knows when you are ready to jump ship, or even blow up the ship? To you and to me, Jesus is saying today:
Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.” (John 7:37-38) If you don’t/won’t bring your thirst to Jesus, to what broken cistern are you going to run to today? Thirst boldly! Thirst with hope! Come to Jesus, right now with the thirst he must slake or you die! Risk THAT kind of hope. You will NOT be disappointed.