Living Waters by Ed Cash and Kristyn Getty, 2019.

Verse 1
Are you thirsty? Are you empty?
Come and drink these living waters
Tired and broken, peace unspoken
Rest beside these living waters.

Observe: In athletics, hydration and nutrition facilitate rest and healing. In our fitness culture, much is said and written on this topic. But for so many, thirsty and empty are the realities of not physical life, but spiritual life. Where is rest, healing, and peace to be found? The answer is in verse 2.

Verse 2
Christ is calling, find refreshing
At the cross of living waters
Lay your life down, all the old gone
Rise up in these living waters

Chorus
There’s a river that flows With mercy and love
Bringing joy to the city of our God
There our hope is secure
Do not fear anymore
Praise the Lord of living waters

The terms “cross” and “living waters” set a contrast between death and life. One illustration is baptism. Paul writes, Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. (Romans 6:3–5, ESV).

In baptism, we are buried, then raised, signifying the dead being made alive. The life-giving water overcomes death. The chorus describes it as a river of mercy and love that secures hope and abolishes fear. So abundant is the water that it has a shoreline like a great lake.

Verse 3
Spirit moving mercy washing
Healing in these living waters
Lead your children to the shoreline
Life is in these living waters

Equipped by the Holy Spirit, we lead others, including our children, the shoreline where they may drink of Christ, who came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” (John 10:10b). We are privileged to share this work of God.

Verse 4
Are you thirsty? Are you empty?
Come and drink these living waters
Love, forgiveness, vast and boundless
Christ, He is our living waters

How vast is vast? Boundless means without bounds. This verse tells us there is no end to the love and forgiveness that comes from Christ, our Living Water.

The chorus takes these symbolic contrasts from shadow to reality.

Chorus

There’s a river that flows with mercy and love
Bringing joy to the city of our God
There our hope is secure
Do not fear anymore
Praise the Lord of living waters

The ultimate reality is a river of living water bridged by the Tree of Life. John writes. Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life … the throne of God and the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him. And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.” (Revelation 22:1–2a, 3b-5).

What was lost in Genesis 3 is restored in Revelation 22. As the last Adam, Jesus brings life to all who are his. He invites all to “Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. (Isaiah 55:1, see also John 7:37).

Drink deeply and be filled today and every day by the living, refreshing, boundless water of Christ’s love for you.

Blessings, Pastor Don.