Second Springs
Preaching
Windows For Life
Inspirational And Devotional Illustrations
In the 1930s, I lived in Sugar Grove, Fairfield County, Ohio. The Ohio Fuel Gas Company had two gas compressor stations: one was west of the town, the other was east, along Rush Creek and Logan Hill.
On a path along the side of the creek, north of the Logan Hill plant, there were two freshwater springs. On a hot, summer day, what a delight it was to pause and have a cool, refreshing drink at First Springs.
But when the hot, dry days of late summer arrived, sometimes First Springs would go dry. To get a drink of water, you would have to go on to "Second Springs" where artesian water flowed the year around: in winter or summer, spring or fall.
To me, in later years, I could see a lesson there for all of us. Spiritually, we need more than an initial gift, like that given by First Springs: too often showing in a nominal relationship, an erratic, or no attendance, at worship services at the church.
Name it what you will, we need to get to the place where there is a continuous witness of God's Spirit in our lives, like a drink of water from Second Springs which flows continuously. Too often we fail because we do not press on with faith in the living Spirit of God. Read what Saint John wrote in his Gospel, John 7:37-39 (NRSV).
"On the last day of the festival, the great day while Jesus was standing there, he cried out, 'Let everyone who is thirsty come to me, and let the one who believes in me, drink. As the Scripture has said, "Out of the believer's heart shall flow rivers of living water." ' [Isaiah 12:3]. He said this about the Spirit, which believers in him were to receive."
Yes, go on to the "Second Springs"and drink deeply of God's abiding love. Let it flow out of you in loving service to others who may need it desperately.
On a path along the side of the creek, north of the Logan Hill plant, there were two freshwater springs. On a hot, summer day, what a delight it was to pause and have a cool, refreshing drink at First Springs.
But when the hot, dry days of late summer arrived, sometimes First Springs would go dry. To get a drink of water, you would have to go on to "Second Springs" where artesian water flowed the year around: in winter or summer, spring or fall.
To me, in later years, I could see a lesson there for all of us. Spiritually, we need more than an initial gift, like that given by First Springs: too often showing in a nominal relationship, an erratic, or no attendance, at worship services at the church.
Name it what you will, we need to get to the place where there is a continuous witness of God's Spirit in our lives, like a drink of water from Second Springs which flows continuously. Too often we fail because we do not press on with faith in the living Spirit of God. Read what Saint John wrote in his Gospel, John 7:37-39 (NRSV).
"On the last day of the festival, the great day while Jesus was standing there, he cried out, 'Let everyone who is thirsty come to me, and let the one who believes in me, drink. As the Scripture has said, "Out of the believer's heart shall flow rivers of living water." ' [Isaiah 12:3]. He said this about the Spirit, which believers in him were to receive."
Yes, go on to the "Second Springs"and drink deeply of God's abiding love. Let it flow out of you in loving service to others who may need it desperately.
