The tree was dying. All the top leaves and bark were brown and withered. Slowly that death was sinking down and taking the entire tree. It hadn't gone very long without water, which proved the very basic principal I had often taken for granted. That without water, there is no life--no life for us as human beings, no life for animals, and no life for plants.
I started watering the tree again faithfully every day, and slowly the green began traveling up the dead limb and transforming its formerly dead, withered leaves and bark back into green, living branches and leaves.
As I watched this renewal of life happening before my eyes--a phenomenon that is so basic many don't think about it passed kindergarten--I saw the physical correlation that God wanted me to see spiritually. I need Him like water. I used to be so dead inside without Him, and now it only takes a few days without Him before the deadness starts coming back.
"...Jesus stood and cried out, saying, 'If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, "From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water."' But this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive; for the Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified." John 7:37b-39. (NASB)
Just like the tree needs to be watered by me, I need to be watered by Him every day. Jesus Christ is the new life and living water to my soul. I don't want to go back to being dead inside ever again!
