There are Two Faucets in the Dining Room

There are two faucets in the dining room. One is the goose-neck faucet that we Verity students have a very sensitive relationship with. The other is the black Energy Star unit. Both of these faucets release purified water to all those who come to receive it.

However, this is where the similarities end. The goose-neck faucet is unpredictable. It gives out everything or nothing at all. Many individuals can be compared to the goose-neck faucet because they  worship Christ; they pray God-honoring prayers; they say the right words when they are in the right situation; they pour themselves out to Christ. But when these individuals are in different situations, when they are with their friends and are joking around, they will say things that are not very God-honoring; they will make light of activities that the Bible warns against; they will laugh at crude jokes. The Energy Star unit is consistent. It constantly gives out a steady stream of water. It does not fluctuate. It is always the same. An "Energy Star" Christian is one who is consistent with their worship of Christ. They worship all day, not just at specified times. They are faithful in spending time with God; they do not change their words based on the situation they are in; rather the focus of their words remains on Christ. They bring conversations to spiritual levels. God does not change because He is perfect. A consistent person develops good habits and sticks with them.

There is another difference between the goose-neck faucet and the Energy Star unit. The Energy Star unit gives out water that is hot or cold. There is no in-between. God wants us to be "on fire" for Him. He wants to consume us "as a consuming fire." A fire does not skip around like a tornado. It consumes whatever is in its path. We cannot expect God to work in our lives if we do not let Him consume every part of us. The goose-neck faucet, on the other hand, produces water that is more or less lukewarm. God detests lukewarm Christians. In Revelations 3:16 the Bible says, "So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth." In God's eyes, mediocrity is unacceptable. He would rather us be cold than lukewarm.

The third difference of these two water sources is this: the Energy Star unit is connected to a constant purification Source. As long as the city of Indianapolis has water, so will the unit. The Source is Christ. He promised living water to all those asked it of Him (John 4). Unlike the city of Indianapolis, which could potentially run out of water, Christ will never be empty. The goose-neck faucet is connected to a purification system, but the water sits stagnant in its reservoir breeding bacteria. The tank easily runs dry and requires a great amount of time to refill. Some Christians connect with Christ for a season but then move apart from Him when circumstances are going well. Christ puts His living water into them as they let Him but they do not allow Him to fill their tank to the top for fear that He will take too much control. They hang on to their possessions and habits, refusing to let Christ be their spring of unending joy.

May Christ make me like the Energy Star unit. May I be a consistent Christian. May I be on fire for God. May I cast aside my earthly cares and possessions and allow Christ to fill me up with living water.