In the last chapter of the Bible, we read that there is a river in Heaven, and that in it flows living water, and that the activities of life there take place along the banks of this river (Rev. 22:1,2 “…flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the broad street of the city.”) We also read that God Himself, along with those who have already drunk, is inviting all who are thirsty to drink of the living water as a gift (Rev. 22:17).
As we study the Bible, we understand that the water represents the things that are true about Jesus: that He is eternal God who created all things, willingly became a man so that He could be the ransom for any human being who accepts His payment for our sinfulness, and that He alone can give us new and eternal life from our Father in Heaven. In John 4:10, Jesus offered this living water to a woman whom He had just met. In fact, He said that if she would only accept the things that He said about Himself, then her soul would never thirst again. Later in his account of the life of his Friend and Mentor, John records that Jesus said these words: “If anyone is thirsty, he should come to Me and drink! The one who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, will have streams of living water flow from deep within him.” (John 7:37,38 HCSB).
From the next verse in that same passage, we learn that God’s Holy Spirit is the current upon which flows the river that springs up within and flows out from those of us who have believed in Jesus, the same current that carries the water of life along the river in Heaven. Ezekiel 47:9-12 says that there will be life everywhere this river goes, and that the river will provide food, healing for our souls, and new life that never ends to all who drink.
So, because we have drunk of the living water that was offered freely to us, we now offer food to those who are hungry and living, healing, life-giving water to all who will accept it.