The Welcome Valley Reader
Come In Out of the Cold
by Ervin Witmer
Brr! It’s ten degrees below zero this morning in central Wisconsin. My work truck is like a giant ice cube. Having come through the brutal chill of the night, it is uncooperative and unresponsive this morning. It isn’t going anywhere until it begins to feel some heat from it’s “now plugged-in” block heater.
I went to the barn to begin the chores there. I could hear the bellowing of thirsty cattle. Uh-o! Is a drinking cup frozen? I wondered. Sure enough, not one, but two cups were cold and dry. The cattle couldn’t understand. They were pushing and shoving each other around, convinced that the one standing closest to the cup was just hogging all the water. Frustrated they took it out on my ears with their bellows.
How about you? Are you cold and thirsty? Has the cold left you chilled to the bone and thirsting to death spiritually? Has that estranged relationship chilled your desire to ever try loving again? Are you parched with a soul thirst you’ve never quite understood?
There was a woman from Samaria years ago who found a well of “living water” one day that left her forever thirstless. She had looked for love in all the wrong places and had never been satisfied until she met Jesus by a well of water. The water He gave her quenched her thirst for love. The love He gave warmed her to the core. (See John 4:5-32 in the Bible.)
Jesus did that for me too one time. I was feeling unloved and unfulfilled. My soul thirsted for satisfying relationships. I got married thinking that love could be found in romance. It worked for a while, but it wasn’t enough! I tried different churches, searching for something more. Then, I met Jesus. He invited me into His life.
And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. (John 6:35)
I falteringly followed at first, but kept following. His love drew me on. He introduced me to others of His followers. They cheered me on! Slowly, my cold, thirsty heart warmed to His touch. I stayed inside with Him. I’ve never been the same since. Now my engine is warmed like my truck’s. It’s turning over and firing on all cylinders. My drinking cup is thawed, full and running over. I am satisfied. Ahhhh!! It feels good.
It’s warm in here by Jesus. It’s cold out there! You’re freezing and thirsting to death! Why stay out there till you’re dead? Come in out of the cold!
E-mail me with your questions era6158@earthlink.net.
© Ervin Witmer. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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