Water of Life
by Ron Scurfield
I love watching waterfalls. They’re so majestic and powerful, and sometimes awesome. Each one is different. They speak of many things, and cause me to wonder about God, time and eternity. As water cascades over the ledges and bounces on to the rocks below in a perpetual display of life and energy, I wonder about their beginnings. For thousands of years, they have been cascading down the hillside or mountain slope, leaping and tumbling into space. They talk about the eternity of God. His timelessness. His eternal presence.
They tell me that, even before they came into being, He was there. He was their creator. A creator cannot be created. He always was, and is, and is to come. Majestic. Powerful. Ageless. This is just a snapshot in time. This is the moment, now. Tomorrow there will be another moment. And so it continues, into eternity, or until a time of God’s choosing, when all things will change. Then there will be a new heaven and a new earth, as the promise is fulfilled.
Sometimes a pool forms at the foot of the waterfall, off to the side away from the strong current. It’s a place of rest. The water gently swirls around, taking time to gather itself together, before it rejoins the momentum of the current to take another leap into the unknown. Then it continues on its journey, steadfast and sure to its final destination, wherever that might be. It has a long way to go, with many obstacles to overcome. Day and night, it continues, unceasing. Sometimes it’s strong and powerful, sometimes weak and tired.
Sometimes it cascades with a vengeance. Then it becomes a stream again, bubbling over the hillside on its way to join the larger river and on to the sea. The journey may be short or long, but nothing can hinder its determination to reach the sea.
Life’s journey is full of the unknown. It can meander through the valleys, and it can negotiate its way around the obstacles. But its direction is sure, and its destination is clear. The Holy Spirit is our guide and will direct our path.
On reaching the sea the river surrenders itself to merge and be swallowed up by the power and majesty of the ocean. It stretches further than the eye can see. Its depths are a mystery, containing life in countless forms. Who can fathom these depths? Who can understand the depths of God or discover the limits of the Almighty? ‘They are higher than the heavens—what can you do? They are deeper than Sheol—what can you know? Their measure is longer than the earth and wider than the sea’ (Job 11:7-9).
Who knows what surprises might be revealed? Is this the ultimate destination? We look to the horizon where heaven and earth appear to meet. It seems but a short leap from sea to sky, from earth to heaven. Yet only the Holy Spirit can cross that divide, to lift us from earth to heaven, with Jesus Christ showing the way.
Prayer: Father, as I meander through the uncertain pathway of life, let the current of Your Holy Spirit be my guide. As I put my trust in You, I know You will keep me safe. Please help me to remain steadfast over all the obstacles and know Your guiding hand upon me all the days of my life. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Ron Scurfield with his wife Jill, are part of the Associate Ministry Team at Ellel Grange and occasionally Ellel Scotland. Ron enjoys walking and writing and meeting interesting people, but his greatest joy is seeing God transform lives, setting people free to live the abundant life that Jesus intended.
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