Water, Water, Water

Explore with me the wonders of water. It is always needed by those on a journey. And perhaps more than any other ingredient of our earthly existence, water demonstrates a three-part aspect of man. We know that we are body, soul, and spirit, although the differences between the latter two sometimes escape us. No need to worry, the Word of God can tell the difference (Hebrews 4:12).

We have heard of explanations of the Trinity—the concept that God is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We affirm that in our worship. Often, in attempts to grasp how all three can exist at the same time, we refer to the well-established fact that water can exist in the form of solid, liquid, and vapor—all at the same “critical point”, which is defined at a specific temperature and pressure. But this explanation is not now what we seek. It speaks of a physical, earthly observation that can not fully extend into the infinite. Our knowledge of scientific data can not comprehend the full nature of God.

So why do we want to examine water? The answer lies in the fact that water shows us three aspects of our lives with which we contend. There is water for the body, water for the soul, and water for the spirit of man. God knew all of this in the Creation. The words water, or waters, are each mentioned more than 25 times in the Book of Genesis alone.
We know that God created man from the dust of the earth, but any child will tell you that dust does not stick together very well—just add water and you have a wonderful “mud pie”. So it is not surprising that our bodies are composed of at least 50% water. We know the Bible speaks of God being the potter while we are the clay (Isaiah 64:8). My wife delights in telling me of her childhood days when she learned to mix all kinds of things together in the mud by the stream—grass, berries, flowers and seeds would do. Baking “pies” and “cookies “in the sun allowed her to imagine her future role as a loving, family provider.

So go with me on this adventure while we discover, or should I say while God reveals, the mystery of Christ as contained in the wonders of water. The Bible presents water as vital to our body, soul, and spirit. All that is revealed is in line with our human
experience, except the upward call toward the spiritual, where we still have much to
learn.

Water for the Body

We are fully aware of the need for water in our bodies. It is necessary for life itself. We satisfy our thirst and we cleanse ourselves from the dirt of the world. The Book of Leviticus alone speaks of washing, rinsing, and bathing numerous times. It is a blessing from God to see the abundance of the waters for our use.

We also use water for the living things of the earth over which we are to have dominion. We water our pets, cattle, horses, and livestock. Plants, fruits and vegetables of all kinds survive because we provide water. We even use it to wash our favorite “toys”, such as cars and homes. We contaminate it, purify it, freeze it, boil it, pump it … well, you get the idea. But the Bible holds out another aspect of water. The mystery of Christ extends into our soul.

Water for the Soul

In the Hebrew language, the word soul usually refers to a creature that breathes, but it may also describe the personality and nature of man. The word in Greek usually refers to a living being and the seat of all feelings. Since we are created in the image of God as a living soul, it is obvious that the God-like characteristics of love and thought, the feelings of the heart, and the nature of our will are all expressions of the soul. We are incomplete without the presence of any of these attributes. So, it is no wonder that the Bible places so much emphasis on the soul of man. It is also evident that the created natural world has something akin to a soul, for we read that it “waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God” and that it “groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now” (Romans 8:19,22). All creation reflects the very nature of God; we have a personal expression of Him in all that we see in the heavens and on the earth.

Perhaps there is no better illustration of the concept of water, as it relates to the soul, than in Psalm 23. The shepherd is said to lead us beside still waters. My shepherd son-in-law affirms that sheep, to which we are compared, love to be near water that is calm and still. Rapidly running water, with its turmoil and turbulence, stirs up risk and fear. The sheep can drink safely from quiet water. We all have found peace in the innermost reaches of our soul when we sit beside still waters.

Why is it that Niagara Falls is the most popular tourist attraction? The sound, the spray, and the awesome power in the water speak to us of our frailty. We are humbled by this display. Try to tame it—no way! We gain new insights into things beyond our control. It is truly a humbling experience.

I live in Florida, near the beaches of the Gulf of Mexico. Every emotion known to man can be found in the presence of these waters. We walk the beaches and marvel at the myriad of life forms, shells, colors, smells, and sounds that are present. Persons of all sizes, shapes, and ages find a common bond with the sea, as they stare at the waves. Dolphin and fish play in the waters. Children test their skills as they play and attempt to express themselves in the water, all the while knowing that mom or dad is watching. And there are waves of all sizes, some threatening and wild, while others gently lap at the sand. It can be greatly feared, or it can be calming. In all of these waves there is a rhythm that engulfs the frail human who tries to “take it all in”. There is randomness to the waves as well as an orderly pattern that continually promises that there will be another and another. We feel part of a greater purpose, we gather strength, we expand our imagination, and, perhaps above all, we feel closer to a higher Being that made all of this possible. Yes, water is for the soul. It touches all that is within us.
In seems inconceivable that we could live on this earth without the soul nourishment that water provides. Our Creator knew this. Jesus had the power to calm the waters, to know when and where to fish in them, and to use them for the washing of feet. All of these actions had great consequences for the souls of his followers.
We all are said to be born of water (John 3:5). Water played a mysterious role in the life of Noah, as he was carried with his family to a new world. In a similar way Jesus carries us to a new creation in Him. Moses was also carried in a reed basket to a new life among strangers. The Divine can touch water, for we know of water being turned into wine. (John 2:1-10). It can even be walked upon by those whose faith is placed in Christ (Matthew 14:29). So, ultimately, we know that spiritual powers can modify our soulful perceptions of water.
Water for the Spirit
Now we are exploring the higher plateaus of the mystery. Christ has referred to concepts about water that go well beyond its body or soul gratifying functions. Spiritual water can transcend space and time to carry us beyond the reaches of this earth. A clear example is the conversation between Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well. He tells her, “Everyone who drinks of this water shall thirst again (water for the body); but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life” (John 4:13,14). The contrast between water for the body and for the spirit is very clear.
Jesus is making it clear that He so identifies with water that He can claim that His water will cause us to obtain eternal life. Now we know full well that only He is the Life, so in a mysterious way He is claiming to be the spiritual water that we drink when we accept Him by faith into our lives.
At a later date He goes on to exclaim, “He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, from his innermost being shall flow rivers of living water” (John 7:38). This in turn refers to Isaiah 44:3 which states that God will pour out water on the thirsty land, as well as Isaiah 58:11, where the people are promised that they will be like a watered garden and a spring of water that does not fail. Certainly it is Christ who is poured out; it is He who will be the spring that never fails.
Moses must have been dealing with all of this as he approached the rock that was to release water in the desert. With clear instructions to just speak to the rock, Moses instead struck the rock twice with his rod (Numbers 20:8,11). Still God was faithful and released the water abundantly. Yet, because of this, Moses did not see the promised land. Certainly the water provided for their bodies, and it must have thrilled their souls as well. But the physical can not touch the spiritual. We can not improve on the quality or quantity of spiritually released water by using earthly methods to obtain it. It will always be a matter of faith. For you see the rock was Christ (1 Corinthians 10:4).
Living water was a term familiar to the Israelite. It referred to springs in the desert, where the water was moving and full of life. Plants provided shade and comfort around the waters, and man could find nourishment there for his spirit.
The use of water in baptism involves another spiritual journey. Although it is an outward sign of an inner step of faith placed in Christ, it is also, in a mysterious way, identifying us with Christ at the cross. For we read in Romans 6:4, Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, in order that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. Our body may not feel this identity, our soul takes no joy in being on a cross, but the spiritual man rejoices in his new, resurrected life in Christ. Clearly spiritual water is the superior of the three.
And what shall we say about the great passage in Revelation 7:17, where it is promised that the Lamb shall guide them to springs of the water of life? Furthermore, the throne of God and of the Lamb, shall put forth this river of the water of life, clear as a crystal (Revelation 22:1). Jesus, the Lamb, has provided for His people with spiritual water that will supply all our needs for eternity. Can we grasp this fully--of course not? But that only adds to the mystery.
We can look forward to being outside of time and space as we learn about these things. Christ will continue to explore the depths of His mystery—Christ in us. We shall see some form of water, or some glimpse of what is truly spiritual water, with each truth that He reveals. He will be revealing Himself, for in the final analysis there is nothing more important to reveal.
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