Good morning and welcome in everybody. Today, we are going to take a look at a passage of scripture, but before we do that, I wanted to tell you a little story.
Many years ago in the early days of our nation, a familiar sound was heard as it chugged across the countryside, carrying both passengers and goods. The steam locomotive provided a regular form of transportation for those who preferred something other than a horse or a buggy. But steam engines went through a lot of water, and needed to stop regularly to fill up. So, back in the 1860s, the London & North Western Railway developed a solution. They developed something that they called a water trough. Instead of having to stop constantly, the train could replenish its water supply while in motion, and this way they could shorten the time that it normally took to reach their destination. Have you ever been going across the lake on a fishing boat and filled up one of your bottles by skimming the surface of the lake? This is essentially what they did. In between the rails, they would fill up long troughs with water, and as the train passed by, the fireman would lower a scoop into the water. The pressure would force water into a pipe that filled up the water tank that was on board, thus providing them with the steam they needed to get further down the tracks.
This reminds me of the Christian Life.
Steam engines needed a plentiful supply of water to get them where they wanted to go. If we seek to obtain paradise, we too will need to fill up the tender of our hearts with Spiritual water from God’s Holy Word.
Psalms 63:1 O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;
Water is something that each of us need to physically survive while here upon the Earth. We give it freely to our families, neighbors and even our pets. For some of us, it is the very first thing that we reach for each morning. Many people will fill up a small bottle and carry it in their pocket so they can sip on it all day long. Soldiers and cowboys have always filled up canteens to quench their thirst as they traverse the hot countryside. Our physical survival depends on the steady intake of water, just as the Christian Life does. To steadily progress forward as a follower of Christ, we must refresh ourselves daily by drinking from the living water of scripture.
John 6:63 …..the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
Have you ever noticed that when you go for a walk, the steeper the hill you climb, or the more rigorous the effort, the more water you normally consume? It is very similar as we walk through this world. During certain periods of our lives, we will need to endure persecutions and sufferings, which at times will require constant drinking from the well of God’s Word. Just like a thirsty locomotive, we must quench our Spiritual thirst through a regular intake of the truth.
Psalms 143:6 I stretch forth my hands unto thee: my soul thirsteth after thee, as a thirsty land. Selah.
Like roots on a tree we need to draw water from our source of life, being well rooted in the teachings of our faith.
Colossians 2:6-7 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.
John 7:37 In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.
God’s Word has been provided to us to strengthen and guide us as we obediently walk the narrow path of Christ. Each day our hearts need to be filled up with biblical truth, so that we can become pleasing unto God and keep our lives free from sin.
Hebrews 3:13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
The goal is perfection, and that is going to require daily submission and application of the truth.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
Our hearts are like flowers in the garden that must be watered in order to go on to maturity. The more we know the more we can grow, and eventually become what God wants us to be.
1 Corinthians 3:6 I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.
1 Peter 2:2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
Just like a car needs fuel to get to town, we will need fuel if we are going to obtain eternal life. Like a lamp that burns brightly, we need the fuel of God’s Word to shine in our hearts and guide us on the path in front of us.
Matthew 25:1-13 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto te, n virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.
Each day we need to be brought into remembrance of God’s purpose for our lives. The more we look in the scriptures, the more we are constantly reminded of the path that we must walk, and the strait gate through which we must strive to enter.
Matthew 5:6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
When you are ready to replenish your Spiritual thirst, you will find an eternal well of living water in between the covers of God’s Holy Word, just as the old steam locomotives found water….
…. In Between the Rails.
Let’s think about these things for right now. We can be found on your web browser by searching, tlkjbc where you can find our diaries distributed through various platforms. We are not associated, nor affiliated with any other religious groups. You can get our entire podcast feeds directly, along with transcripts at tlkjbc.com or I suppose that you could find us somewhere up here, in the Great Northern Minnesota woods. Peace to you, and Lord willing, we will talk with you some more tomorrow. Till then, bye bye everybody. ❤️
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