"As a deer pants for flowing streams,

so pants my soul for you, O God.

My soul thirsts for God,

for the living God."

When shall I come and appear before God?" - Psalm 42:1-2

 

In this Psalm the author likens his soul's thirsting for God to that of a deer panting for life-giving water.  This is because a deer, when fleeing from an adversary becomes quickly hot, stressed and fatigued.  Since it has fur it is unable to be cooled by sweating and instead begins panting in an effort to cool its body.  This is just like a dog which also pants for the same reasons.  Have you ever seen a heavily panting dog drink?  Disgusting right?  Does the dog exercise self-control in order to drink in a more dignified and civilized manor?  No!  The dog laps water as if his life depends on it because really it does.  If the dog is unable to refresh and cool himself he will get heat exhaustion and die. In the same way we must recognize that apart from God we will certainly collapse and die.  As it is written,

"If [God] should set his heart to it

and gather to himself his spirit and his breath,

all flesh would perish together,

and man would return to dust." (Job 34:14-15)

And

"When you hide your face, they are terrified; when you take away their breath, they die and return to the dust." (Psalm 104:29)

How then are we to keep God's breath and spirit from departing from our bodies?  We must continually refresh our bodies by sleep and sustenance especially water.  Our bodies are so dependent upon water that our lives should be considered directly linked to water.  Especially in the middle-east where this Psalm was written all creatures know this one equation best:

WATER is LIFE.

If then water is life and God is as water for our souls then God is life and we must drink of his Spirit in order to refresh our souls. 

So then what keeps you from pursuing the Living God?  Is he not worth ANY cost?  Will you let your prideful heart rob you of this true life?  If you would drink to save your body will not drink to save your eternal soul? To hell with your stubborn pride!  Who cares what others may think?  This water of the Holy Spirit is valuable beyond any price.  Should you work your whole life to get only one drink of this life-giving it would be a small price to pay for such an incredible eternal salvation.  And yet you could not afford this water so God gave up his only son Jesus, the Christ to pay the price for you.  And so now you look upon the eternal well-spring of life which is offered freely for you on his behalf.  All you have to do is drink.  "Taste and see that the LORD is good!"  (Psalm 34:8)  He will not make you drink.  Though it is totally free and beyond price you are not forced to swallow this refreshing and life-giving water.  But how can you escape eternal doom and torment if you neglect such a great opportunity?  How will you escape if you neglect such a great salvation?

 

I know it is scary.  I know others have lied and told you that the waters are poison. But even if this drink should cost you your life it will only mark the beginning of your true life with him.

So drop your pride, bend you knees, lift up your face and say, "God I need you.  Please come into me and fill me and give me this life that comes only from you.  For this I would pay any price but since I cannot pay I accept Jesus' sacrifice.  Thank you. . .

Mr. Snyder