Living Water

Picture from Photobucket by Roxy_laa (thanks Roxy)

Crawling on his hands and knees his throat is parched and dry
Sand permeates his body gritty slime forms on his eyes.

He knows the end is near as he inches slowly on
He sees mirages of a lake, his children, and his Mom.

He wants to stop but he drives on, not knowing where or why
When suddenly he sees the wall of a shanty quite near by.

He drags his body through the sand to the shade of that old shed
He feels relieved by the shade, soft memories fill his head.

It's time to thank the Lord, for this shade from the blazing heat
As he prays he sees a pump and raises to his feet.

He staggers to the pump and pulls the handle down
All he gets is rusty creaks, a mournful awful sound.

The seals are dry it cannot pump – all his hope is turned to dread
He collapses on the ground and crawls back toward the shed.

When all at once he feels, some glass, hit hard by his head
This is all he needs, more hurt before he's dead

He digs and finds a gallon jug completely full of water
As he tries to open it, sees a note, left there by a squatter.

You must use this water to prime the old steel pump
If you don't use every drop, it's useless as a dump.

He prayed down his temptation to drink and use the rest
He knew he got the message and he must do what's best.

He poured it all into the well just as the note had said
Grabbed the handle and he pumped until he was near dead.

The handle creaked and nothing came as he pumped up and down
And then……….. a tiny trickle of liquid dark and brown.

He pumped on with hope and vigor, and more brown liquid flowed
The flow turned to a crystal clear, each stroke a lighter load.

The water now was flowing  he was lavished by the flow
Refreshing to his body, this life blood, cold as snow.

He drank and soaked all he could use, he felt his body heal
The note stuck on the bottle had been so right and real.

He walked over to the shack leaned back and closed his eyes
Thanked the Lord for saving him from a sure demise.

He fell into a peaceful sleep and dreamed of those he loved
Saw all the ways he's been blessed by the Lord above.

When he awoke he was refreshed and pumped and drank his fill
Planned his course to venture on through the sandy hills.

He filled his once dry water bag and soaked his long white cloak
He then recalled the gallon jug and the bottom of the note.

It said "when you have been refreshed and you are safe and smug
Be sure to think of those who follow, please refill the jug."

I've never crawled through desert sand I've never been that dry
But folks have filled the jug for me and from now on shall I.

I must too remember when the saving water is found
I must use all of it, to get to where I'm bound.

Jesus is that water jug and the water is the Holy Spirit Dove
I'll try to use up every drop to prime the pump of love.

If you don't know Jesus as your Savior and your friend
I pray you find that water jug before your life does end

God Bless You. Calvin

I heard this story as a sermon by Chuck Swindoll

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Living Water