Based on John 7:37-53 (New King James Version)
“On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, ‘If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’ But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. Therefore many from the crowd, when they heard this saying, said, ‘Truly this is the Prophet.’ Others said, ‘This is the Christ.’ But some said, ‘Will the Christ come out of Galilee? Has not the Scripture said that the Christ comes from the seed of David and from the town of Bethlehem, where David was?’ So there was a division among the people because of Him. Now some of them wanted to take Him, but no one laid hands on Him. Then the officers came to the chief priests and Pharisees, who said to them, ‘Why have you not brought Him?’ The officers answered, ‘No man ever spoke like this Man!’ Then the Pharisees answered them, ‘Are you also deceived? Have any of the rulers or the Pharisees believed in Him? But this crowd that does not know the law is accursed.’ Nicodemus (he who came to Jesus by night, being one of them) said to them, ‘Does our law judge a man before it hears him and knows what he is doing?’ They answered and said to him, ‘Are you also from Galilee? Search and look, for no prophet has arisen out of Galilee.’ And everyone went to his own house.”
Faith is something that is essential for living life. Nothing can be done without faith, especially something of great value. Everything in this life requires faith, and I’m talking about (for starters) common faith (nothing spiritual, at least not yet). All great achievements, discoveries, successes, etc. have been attained with faith, in believing without yet seeing the fruit of what is believed. Faith is synonymous with vision, the power to imagine and fight for the result of something hoped for until it is achieved. There have been many people throughout history that have demonstrated great faith. And through that great faith, they have been able to achieve what they believed, and have also opened opportunities so that others could achieve great things through their feats. I’m reminded of Christopher Columbus, even though by accident, if he would not have determined within himself that there was a better way to get to a destination, facing what was unknown back then, he would not have discovered America (although the Asians were first, and then the Vikings rediscovered it, but neither had a clue or idea of what they were doing; and this also has a very important point that we will see later). And if Christopher Columbus would not have discovered America, we would not have the world we know today. How many other great achievements were attained through people that did have some faith; achievements in science, in medicine, and in so many other things that have changed the face of this world? Faith produces struggle, effort, taking great risks, facing great oppositions, etc. Faith is something powerful. Without faith, nothing can be accomplished.
Now then, what do we do with the ability of faith that was introduced into our being (because every person has this ability)? Being able to have faith is part of the likeness every human being has with God, like the created beings we are (and here is where today’s passage starts coming in). Every person implements faith on different things, and that is a decision. A person chooses where to put their faith, and how exactly to apply their faith. For example, let’s see when a person implements their faith on secular things, and not on God. The great majority of people use their faith only for temporary, limited and superficial things. They put all of their faith to gain material things, careers, achievement, success, fame, plans, personal relationships, physical fitness, power, etc. It’s not that these things are necessarily evil, but if that is all they are using faith for, then they will not gain anything lasting. They might get what they want, but those things end when this earthly life ends, or when this same earthly life changes somehow, because everything here is uncertain. The Bible teaches us a much valuable reality through this passage: “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?” Mark 8:36. Material things can go in a moment. A career only lasts as long as mental abilities, good health, or necessary aptitudes last. Achievement and success are not remembered on a death bed. And all of those people that once upon of time surrounded someone when they used to be respected and well-known are not there anymore, because they have abandoned that person. Plans can change at any moment because of an accident or because of an unexpected circumstance. Personal and intimate relationships can also come undone because of an accident, because of attitude changes, or simply because of the environment and what life itself can bring. Physical wellbeing and appearances can fade away because of illness, time, etc. Science does have limits. And well, power can also leave in an instant. You have to think also, what is human power vs. the forces of nature, or against an incurable disease? We all die, even people with power.
Now, how exactly do we decide to implement our faith in God (because that is also very important)? There are many people that believe to have their faith on God, and even more so, they think that their faith can even move mountains. But, how are they exactly using their faith? There are many people that use their faith in God to try to get something temporary, the same things we wrote about before. Many believers use their faith by trying to use God, and for them to continue being the lord of their own lives. A great majority of people want to keep on doing whatever they want to do. This is nothing new, for it is written: “…everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” Judges 21:25b. Many want to keep being their own master and do whatever they feel like doing. And well, in some moment of need, they humble themselves before God to get help. But when that scary moment is gone, they go back to trying to make God the servant and themselves lord. I don’t need to explain why that’s wrong, right?
But, when faith is legitimately used for the Lord, not only putting our faith in the Lord, but also, focusing on His will as we should (which can only be found by rightfully using God’s Word), then our thirst can be satisfied, and rivers of living water will flow from within; and that remains unaffected by any circumstances. For the Lord Himself said: “Jesus said to her, ‘Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?’” John 11:40. The Glory of God is greater than any other created thing, than any emotion or feeling; it goes beyond death itself. It brings life, and life in abundance, because it’s the combination of faith in God with the knowledge of His Holy Word. For if these same scholars of the law and the Scriptures would have searched well, the Lord did come from the seed of David, and from Bethlehem. Every prophecy written about the Messiah was fulfilled to perfection in Jesus. But, they simply did not want to believe, no matter what the Lord would have done. There are many people like that today. They use their faith for different things; and some put their faith in God, but both the unbeliever and many supposed believers use their faith to try to gain earthly things, or to fulfill their own human will. We should not commit the same mistake the Asians and the Vikings did (what I mentioned before), that they did not know what they were doing. Faith is not very useful without the appropriate use of God’s knowledge, which guides you to the Lord’s will and authority. So then, have you put your faith in Jesus and in His Word so that rivers of living water can flow from within you? Lord bless! John