It’s What I Want!

I currently drive an automobile which achieves far above average fuel mileage, two or three times what many drivers experience. I would like to own an all-electric luxury automobile as my daily driver. I have a need for reliable cost effective transportation. I have a desire for something more, something special. There are certain drawbacks inherent with any choice of transportation. We care about pollution, safety, cost and even style. There are some constraints on us from outside sources as well. Government mandated pollution and safety standards, current social style opinions, even the availability of the resources to meet our desires. In other words, how deep are my pockets? What I want and what I need are separated by several social-economic issues.
The differences between what we strive for and what we need often control large facets of our lives. While it is not a problem for some folks, the car I would like to own costs over one hundred thousand dollars. It is more than my budget can handle. My wife is not completely sold on the viability of the concept; how far can it go before needing a charge, can we make long trips, will it hold everything we need to travel. I need a happy wife to maintain a happy life. And I really do not know if I would be happy with this choice. But I enjoy thinking I would. What I need and what I want. There are always choices we can make. There are always outcomes we can anticipate.
In John chapter four is the classic confrontation between what someone wants and what someone needs. You need water to quench your thirst and continue your life or living water to bring you new life and quench all your fears and concerns. This is the story of Jesus meeting the Samaritan woman at the well. Jesus requests water for his immediate need, knowing He is capable of delivering the answer to greatest need the woman will ever have. She is consumed with many social and cultural issues and has no idea of her real need. She came to get water. He came to give water. She had a vessel to retrieve and share the water. She had a willingness to help someone she saw as being in the same situation. Yet, she hesitates because she senses an ulterior agenda.

This is absolutely the circumstance we find ourselves in when attempting to duplicate what our Lord was doing. We approach people because we know what we have is superior to what they are seeking. We start from where they are, with what they have and seek an opportunity to introduce them to the love of Christ which they need. I recall some of the many times when I was approached and no convenient opening could be found, I remained lost. Until someone sat down and waited for me to come with what I had so they could compare it to what I needed. I now know that they came after much prayer, in uncertainty and perhaps a little fear.
Jesus sidestepped her social concerns and drove to the heart of His purpose. Even though she recognizes His diversion, she is interested in seeing where the conversation will go. She has no idea of the power she is dealing with. She does not know the impact of what she could be rejecting. She does not want to discuss what got her into her current situation even though she would obviously love to discover a way out to a better future. She came to get water. She has a home and a relationship and a life to get back to. She came to fill her vessel. Jesus establishes His credibility with her by recognizing her situation without condemning her. Then, and only when she has opened the door to invite a spiritual discussion, Jesus delivers the simple truth of Salvation and the true nature of the relationship which the Father desires to replace her religion with.

Once she has received living water, she drops the vessel she brought for physical water and becomes the overflowing spring of living water to everyone she knew. What she came for, what she desired became nothing compared to what she now had. She would still need the water vessel. She would still need to come to the well for water. But for the moment she knew power and truth beyond what had ever been her experience before. She was driven by the need to share her joy. Just as a new automobile owner has a level of pride to share. Just as the person you might share the truth of Jesus with would desire to let everyone know of their newfound relationship. Being forgiven by God is the ultimate desire of anyone who believes there is a creator God which they are responsible to.
She had seen herself as a lowly sinner without any hope of redemption. She knew she wanted more than she had. She knew she needed the water from the well to live. She did not know she needed living water. She had known happy times and sad times. She had experienced good and bad from life. What she saw herself as and what Jesus saw her as were two vastly differing views. Her water pot was a means to provide and express her need. She left it behind when she found her true desire.
I have reliable cost effective transportation. I have a desire for something more, something special. I desire a closer walk with Jesus. I know Him as Redeemer, as Savior, as Lord and as supplier of every need. If He does not supply it, I do not need it. His timing is not always what I think it should be but that’s okay too. Sometimes that is exactly what makes it special. In my life I am at the point I am because of the choices I have made, both good and bad. The bad ones are when I do what I want without consulting Him. Choices have consequences. The good choices are the result of listening to Him or to others who listen to Him. Romans 14:23 says that “Whatsoever is not of faith, is sin”. Sin is always a bad choice. Repentance and forgiveness is always a good choice. Romans 2:4 declares that “The goodness of God leads you to repentance”. What I want is the peace of God that surpasses all human understanding. In every storm of life, in every consequence to bad choices, what I want is Jesus in control, Jesus helping me make better choices. Maybe one day I’ll see the all-electric luxury car in my garage, but for now I’ll be satisfied with being electrified by the indwelling eternal Holy Spirit of the living God of creation being in me.

What do you want?