Well, Well, Well FIJ

 

Well, Well, Well – Faith in Jasper Article

 

A group of young people from across the country recently stayed at our church facility. They were with Katimavik, that national initiative to give young men and women a chance to discover our nation while volunteering in various communities. In lieu of paying us our usual rental cost we had them do some work projects, including digging out some window wells that had long ago been filled in when two basement windows were blocked up in the old Bedford Inn.

 

After assigning them this task I was surprised later in the day to see in the huge mound of dirt just how many rocks had been in the wells. It was obviously a larger task than had been reckoned.

 

In the history of the ancient Near East, as recorded in the Bible, several times a biblical hero had to contend with an enemy filling in his precious, life-sustaining well. In an age of taps and pipelines, and living in a place of lakes and rivers, it’s a little difficult for us to grasp the enormity of this crime.

 

My wife tells me we’re supposed to drink 8 glasses of water a day. One of my children, ironically the most active one, seems to hardly ever drink! I’m forever telling her to finish her drink, but so often in tidying up the table after a meal, there it is - my daughter’s glass 2/3's full.

 

In examining the nature of the human soul, the New Testament uses the image of a clay vessel, their equivalent for our glass. The declaration of the New Testament or new covenant, this new way of entering into a relationship with God, of actually experiencing His presence and even being transformed by the very source of Life, is that through faith in the Son of God our clay vessels can be filled with treasure, Liquid Eternity! That is why the Bible speaks so much about having Joy, Peace, Wisdom, Love, Hope, Belonging and Purpose. Since these things are an eternal part of an eternal Being, who is willing to share them with us, even the lumpiest and most chipped of clay vessels can contain this treasure, through humble trust.

 

Now go back to the filling-in-the-well motif and think for a moment if the promise of Joy, of Peace, of Wisdom, of Love, of Hope, of Belonging and Purpose is now inside of you or not. If not, could it be that a load of dirt and stones has been dumped down your well? Maybe it’s time to think about a little soul excavation! If you can’t find a Katimavik group, why not call your local Bible-believing Church. We know the One who can help! Things don’t have to stay the same.

 

Pastor Richard Bowler

Jasper Park Baptist Church