LESSON 13:
Water of Life
1: You would not think of trying to use a car, a sewing machine, or a camera without making sure you understand the instructions regarding their operation, would you? Otherwise, you might damage or destroy your very precious investment. Yet, how strange it is that through neglect, ignorance, and abuse we often ruin the most delicate piece of equipment in the world, our own bodies. The way we treat ourselves often encourages germs to grow and multiply in our bodies resulting in sickness, pain and misery which in most instances could have been avoided.
2: Now, I am going to give you another simple, but Very important recipe for good health: DRINK WATER! Do I hear someone saying, "Oh, is that all? I thought you might tell about some new cheap miracle drug!" No, what I am going to talk about is not a miracle drug, but it is a miracle prescription.
3: How often when we inquire of our friends how much water they drink each day, we get such answers as 'well, usually drink whenever I am thirsty." Or, "I can go the whole day without taking a glass of water!" Or, "You know, I am like a camel. I am just never thirsty!" Many times those people do not realize that just such a simple thing as drinking water might have kept them from having to make a visit to the doctor's office.
4: Now, let us look at some of the reasons why drinking enough water is so important. Your body is made up of 70-75% water. Only about of this amount is in your blood. About of the water in your body is in your muscle. Your brain, that important wet cell battery in your body is 75% water! All food is carried to the cells of the body dissolved in liquid. The cells themselves are mostly water.
5: Let me give you an illustration. Here is a woman doing a daily job with which we are all familiar: the daily washing of clothes. As you women well know, keeping clothes bright and clean depends upon proper washing and rinsing. What would happen if you used only this same water to wash in day after day? When you finished soaping and scrubbing, you would wring out the clothes and hang them up. Of course, from time to time as the dry clothes take up the water, you would have to add a little more water, you would not pour out your original water, and change it. You would always carefully keep it, and the next time you wash, you would again use the same water. You would wash out the next lot of dirty clothes, wring them, hang them, still using the same water. Again you would save that water, and the next day you would again put in your clothes, wash them, wring them, hang them. Well, that is what this strange person is doing! And you can imagine how her clothes look. That water has become like mud. When she puts in something white, it comes out well, pretty bad! You simply would never think of caring for your clothes in such a way!
6: This is just a simple illustration of what we too often expect of our bodies. The body has to keep on using the same water over and over again when we do not drink enough. It is true, there is water in your food, in your juicy fruits and in your vegetables. But this is not enough for your body needs to keep your cells and organs in the best condition.
7: You will remember that in an earlier lesson we mentioned those wonderful organs, your kidneys. In these organs are many miles (kilometers) of fine tubing through which all the fluids in your body move many times a day at the average rate of about 6 quarts (6.3 liters) every hour! Those tiny tubes can get clogged up unless you drink plenty of water.
8: Perhaps you have noticed that every time I mention drinking. I specify water! Why not some other kind of fluid? For example, why not beer, or tea or coffee, or a coke, or some other kind of soft drink? The reason is that, while it is true these are mostly water, they also have other substances that are harmful. Beer affects your power of reasoning. Coffee and tea contain stimulating elements that are detrimental to good health; cola drinks also have stimulants. Also it actually takes more water out of your body to flush these poisons, than the drink puts in.
9: Soft drinks contain what we call, "empty calories." The sugar can satisfy your hunger and may take away your appetite for good food at meal time and yet not give you any real nourishment. If you are really wanting good health, take these four items (beer, tea, coffee, coke) flavored drinks and soft drinks completely off your list, put in their place pure, clean water! How much? Six to eight large glasses at a minimum per day.
10: When should you drink? Let me give a tip. Drink between your meals rather than at mealtime. As far as your body is concerned, an hour or so before meals is the ideal time to drink, then you will not be so thirsty at your meal, and your digestion will get along much better than if you gulp down water with your meals.
11: Let me give you another hint. If you happen to have trouble with constipation, take very warm water in the morning before you eat. Start out with a glass or so, and gradually increase it until it becomes a pint or so. This is all that many people need to do to take care of constipation, no need for drugs or laxatives.
12: Thirst is a good indication that your body is needing water. Do not ignore it. But thirst alone cannot be a safe guide. Whether or not you feel thirsty, your body needs fresh water continually. Remember the illustration of the woman washing clothes!
13: Friends, we live in a world that surrounds us with enemies of health. In this lesson we have considered another means of preventing needless aches and pains. With this simple but very important health rule, you can help to make yourself the kind of person germs do not like, instead of the kind germs like very much.
14: We have learned how vital water is to the human body in combating germs, the enemies of good health and long life. The Holy Scriptures reveal that we all are plagued with another enemy called sin. Paul wrote, "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God." I assure you now, friends, there is a solution to this problem, there is Living Water available to cleanse us from sin and make us strong to resist the enemy of our soul.
15: The Bible tells us the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sins. In the spiritual sense the water or the cleansing agent is compared to the Blood of Jesus.
16: "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us." 1 John 1:8. Therefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin, and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned. The first person who sinned was Eve, then joined Adam and down the stream of life until everybody is a sinner. So everyone needs to be cleansed. Everyone needs the cleansing agent which is only the blood of Christ.
17: Hear the claim of Jesus while on earth. "Which of you convinceth me of sin?" In other words, who can say that I have sinned? The Bible further tells us "who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth." Jesus is the only person who has ever made such a claim. He is the only sinless person and hence He alone can cleanse us.
18: "For the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." "For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly." For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. Our God commendeth His love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." What wonderful love! By disobedience man was doomed eternally, but God steps in and a plan was laid. God will not allow the human race to perish. Law which is the foundation of God's government cannot be changed or withdrawn. This would only bring chaos. At the same time, justice must be done. The sinner must die.
19: So, in this plan of salvation, Jesus took upon Himself to ransom the fallen race by offering to die in man's stead. He is called the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
20: So, justice and love kissed each other at the cross. The cross is a sign of the justice of God and also a sign of God's love. As soon as Adam and Eve fell, they were told of this wonderful plan. God did not leave them without hope. They were given the promise of salvation through the loving death of Jesus Christ on the cross. But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman.
21: Until the time Jesus was crucified, men were told to offer sacrifices, sacrifices of animals. This is actually the offering of the blood of slain animals. This blood was to represent the blood of Christ. So a system was introduced by God Himself which was known as the sacrificial system. This was a type or the shadow of things to come. A symbol of what Jesus was going to do for sinful humanity. And without shedding of blood, there is no way whereby a man may get rid of his sins.
22: The blood of the animals did not cleanse anybody. It was only to remind them of the blood of Christ. While offering the blood of animals, they were to have faith in the blood of Christ. Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in His blood." It is the faith which justified the people before Christ and it is the faith still that justifies us after Christ, faith in the blood of Jesus Christ. "In whom (Jesus) we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace." If we believe today that His blood can cleanse us from our sins, and accept Him as our personal Saviour, we are justified in His sight.
23: Jesus is in heaven now, and if we pray to God, believing in the blood of Jesus for the cleansing and forgiveness of our sins, He will clean us completely. Jesus will plead with His father on our behalf saying, "Yes Father, pardon him, I have shed my blood for him and he believed in it." And our sins are forgiven and we stand before God as if we had never sinned. This is really a mystery, but it is exactly so.
24: My dear friends, we all know we are sinners. We must understand that Jesus is our only Saviour. Let us believe in His atoning sacrifice. God grant that we all will accept the gift of His blood to cleanse us from all sins and prepare us to meet Him at His soon appearing. "For God so loved the world; that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
Here is additional information about Jesus in heaven just now:
"Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an High Priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens;
"A minister of the Sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man." Hebrews 8:1:2.
"Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them." Hebrews 7:25.
"Seeing then that we have a great High Priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
"Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." Hebrews 4:14:16.
"Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way, which He hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, His flesh. And having an High Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith." Hebrews 10:19:22.
