Lenten Meditation, Part 3

 

March 3, 2002

 

The Rev. Dr. Anthony J. Godlefski, Pastor

Montgomery United Methodist Church

John 4:5-42

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        Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, good morning.

        The title of our message this morning is "God is my abundant supply." I wonder if any of you - well, probably not - but I wonder if any of you have had the experience that I've had of running on empty. You know, there is a space on the gas gauge on the car between E and Infinity where, when the needle gets there, we know we can still make it a few more miles.

        But I know that all of you are the kind of folk who drive to the gas station as soon as the needle gets to half full. Right? When you're riding in your car and you get to the "E" mark and you're not sure where the gas level really is, there are no atheists, my friends. You make it to the station and say, "Phew!" "Running on fumes" is another expression.

        I'm wondering if there are people in the congregation today who, in some way, shape, or form, are running on empty.

        There are two verses from today's scripture that I'd like to lift up. The first is when Jesus was running on empty. It says, "Now Jacob's well was there in Samaria. Jesus, therefore, being wearied from his journey, sat by the well. It was about the sixth hour when a woman of Samaria came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, 'Give me a drink of water.'"

        Jesus was running on empty. I wonder if any of us are running on empty, perhaps in the area of love and friendship. Maybe you need ideas to make your work or your business or your school go. Maybe you feel like you're running on empty in terms of time. Maybe you're feeling a little empty because of grief. Maybe you've lost someone or something. Maybe you've lost a position or you've moved or you're new, and you're grieving what once was.

        Let me tell you, dear friends, if you feel that way, the scripture has good news for you. Jesus was running on empty. He needed a drink of regular water. But the woman at the well was running on empty spiritually, and Jesus knew that. Jesus knew that she needed a friend, that she needed a boost and a lift, and He gave her that lift.

        Listen to what He said: "Thanks for the cup of water, but I have spiritual, mysterious, living water to give you." Be my friend; follow my way, and something wonderful will happen inside you - all of you.

        What is it that happens when we make friends with Jesus Christ? The Bible tells us that Jesus says, "The water that I shall give a person will become in that person a fountain of water, springing up into everlasting life."

        Do you love fountains? I love them. Some of the most beautiful fountains in the world are in Austria, near Salzburg in a place called Helbrunn. It was an ancient estate. It's where Sound of Music was filmed. There are beautiful fountains gushing to astounding heights! They're pictures of abundance. Fountains are wonderful.

        I remember one fountain there that bore a beautiful bronze plaque, and it said "Aqua non bitabule." I saw some tourists approach the fountain and they said, "Oh, this is the fountain aqua non bitabule. Maybe we can take a drink." And they went up and took a drink. But aqua non bitabule means "water cannot be ingested."

        Fountains are beautiful. They sparkle. And Jesus said "the person that takes the kind of fountain that I have, that takes the kind of water that I have to give, has something new, something refreshing inside of them." And that's my wish for you, especially if you're running on empty.

        A favorite memory of mine is of going, on Mondays, my day off, with my mom, to my cousin's house in Barnegat. Uncle Sy and my ciocia Lillian - ciocia [pronounced cha-cha] is Polish for aunt - lived in Barnegat in a big old white house that a sea captain had lived in. We used to go down there and ride in Uncle Sy's boat. Every time we went down there, we'd get some water at an Artesian well. There was a place for cars to park, and there was a wooden platform, and in the middle of it there was a white pipe coming out of the ground. And that white pipe had a spigot, and that water would come flowing and flowing like a bathtub running full force. People would pull their cars up and bring their milk jugs and fill them with that clear, sparkling water. And I'd think, "Wow, that is such a picture of God."

        I confess to you that I also would also relive childhood visits to the Artesian well with my parents, and I would hear my father's voice saying, "Shut that thing off. You're wasting water," but that was just the way my dad was.

        But the water doesn't shut off. It runs day and night, full and cold and clear and good. If you've been running on empty, my friends, that is a picture of God for you. Jesus said that, within the one who accepts Him, Jesus installs a fountain, a fountain unto everlasting life. Something wonderful happens - you're not running on empty anymore! You have hope!

        If you've been running on empty in the department of love and acceptance, Jesus says, "Turn around and look. I love you with an everlasting love that will never let you go." If you're short of ideas for your job or your school, Jesus says, "Turn around and look. There's more than one way to solve this problem." If you are grieving and your heart is broken, Jesus says "Remember Easter! There's hope. There's more to life than meets the eye." If you're feeling bad, Jesus says "Turn around and remember I care, and I believe in you."

        Oh, dear friend, the thought I'd like to ask you to take with you into the week is the thought of abundance. In the Twenty-third Psalm we read, "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want." I have everything I need. That's the consciousness we should abide in this week, this Lenten time. The Twenty-third Psalm says, "My cup is about half full." No? Isn't that right? "My cup is three-quarters full." No? "My cup runneth over." There's more than enough in God's way of doing things.

        Think of abundance this week, won't you? God is my abundant supply. You know, my mom shared so many things with me and said so many beautiful things. One of the most beautiful was this: When things were a little tight, money-wise or whatever, she would say, "Anthony, God has so much more than he's ever given away." So won't you hold in mind this week the image of the fountain within? When you feel like you're running on empty, remember that there is a fountain of love, a fountain of goodness,  that will be there for you. Turn your eyes upon him and goodness will flow.

        The other thing my mom used to say was, "Anthony, when you go Niagara Falls, don't bring a tin cup." God has so much more than he's ever given away. It's there; it's coming your way. Trust it. Focus on it. May abundance be yours, because God loves you. I do, too. Have a wonderful week. Amen.