93. Rivers of Living Water
John 7:38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive.)
The promise of living water for believers in Jesus is the Spirit(so John, the writer, defines the metaphor). Rivers of living water is a life-giving and life-refreshing never-ending flow of thirst-quenching nourishment and strengthening of real life. Living water means a continual flow of life that prevents stagnation, boredom and a pooling of poison. That the Spirit is constantly flowing tells us that He never gets boring and stale. Life is always changing and moving and the source that gives life and refreshment must also be changing and moving.
New and fresh ideas continually flow from the Spirit within to meet changing circumstances and make life worth living. Water is needed for almost every living thing on earth; without water living things get weak and die. The metaphor shows us that without the Spirit the eternal life, the spiritual life, inside us will dry up; it is even possible that eternal death, at least spiritual death, will result. Spiritual life, like physical life, exists on a continuum of health and vigor. Waning spiritual life leads to boredom and unhealthy living, or thirst; spiritual life is continually nourished and strengthened and made healthier when the Spirit continues to flow.
The Spirit flows upon the Word of God; He particularly rides upon the Gospel when we hear and receive it; Word and Sacraments are the means of grace through which the Spirit comes into and moves in our spirits. From that inner place, the human spirit, the soul and body are affected for good and for abundance. The Spirit flows when we believe in Jesus; and faith comes by hearing, hearing the word of Christ (the Gospel). The more we hear the Gospel, the more faith comes, the more the living water flows, and the more life is lived. This is the promise.
Since the King James Bible says, “Out of his belly,” some think that it is very possible that the human spirit, and the soul, is located in the abdomen. Regardless, the belly surely means the inner center of our being. There the Holy Spirit resides and from there He influences.