What Kind Of Fountain Are You?

Have you ever watched a fountain? The clear tinkle and splash of water is one of the most refreshing sounds. It seems to be a perpetual flow of endless water, always ready, always available, always pure. It beckons to all around to come and partake of the clear, cool water. But not all fountains work. Some are dry entirely, a false vision of life. Others have water in the basin but don’t run. The water in the pool is almost worse than no water at all for it is murky and full of “life” and floaters. Often, these pools smell, too, repulsive to any who come. What kind of fountain are you?

It may seem strange to think of oneself as a fountain, but we are fountains in a sense.

John 4:13-14 The Message (MSG)

Jesus said, “Everyone who drinks this water will get thirsty again and again. Anyone who drinks the water I give will never thirst—not ever. The water I give will be an artesian spring within, gushing fountains of endless life.”

See, Jesus is life-giving water, providing an endless supply to any who will take it. When we give our lives to Him, we become fountains with His water pouring into us. We don’t provide the water, we are only vessels His water flows through to ourselves and others. But as with real fountains, we don’t always work.

A Working Fountain

Of course, the ideal is to be a fountain that works as it should. This kind of fountain will have water pouring into it, but also out of it. That keeps the fountain working, but also keeps the water fresh. They say a rolling rock gathers no moss, in the same way, moving water grows no algae or anything else. It keeps itself clean and pure. Tumbling water actually cleans out the impurities.

Hebrews 10:22 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

Let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

James 4:8 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

In order to do this we need first to be drawing water from the source continually. That is what this “draw near” refers to, a continual drawing and seeking, as with the “drinking” in John 4. We need to be seeking Jesus and spending time with Him on a regular basis. He is the life-giving water. The only way we can have that artesian spring within us is to always be tapped into Him, otherwise we become dry fountains which are pretty but useless.

Psalm 63:1-3 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

O God, You are my God; I shall seek You earnestly;
My soul thirsts for You, my flesh yearns for You,
In a dry and weary land where there is no water.
Thus I have seen You in the sanctuary,
To see Your power and Your glory.
Because Your lovingkindness is better than life,
My lips will praise You.

Staying full also prevents anything else from filling us. Think of a glass partly filled with water. It has room for other liquids in it, like the oil of sin. But if more water is poured into the glass, the oil stays on the top and when the water reaches the top the oil spills over the side so that only water is left in the glass. We need to stay filled with the living water.

Matthew 5:14-15 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.

The other key to being a working fountain is to pour the water out. A fountain needs water to work, but if the water is never allowed out it won’t work either. Even if there is water in the pool, it will become stagnant if no fresh water is added. This water is teeming with life, but it is the wrong kind of life, the kind that makes one lose an appetite. We need to share the water we receive with others. We need to share God with those around us. We cannot keep it shut up within us, for it will only do good, for us and others, if it is allowed to flow. Water is of no use unless it is used.

John 8:31-32 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”

A Christian who does not draw from the life giving well will be dry and useless, unable to help themselves and others. Likewise, a Christian who draws from the well, but does not share with others will be alive but useless and maybe even repulsive to others. The only way to be a good, functioning Christian and fountain for Christ is to draw regularly and continually from Christ, and then to share that with others, to have a continual flow of Christ’s love and life into and through them.

What kind of fountain are you?


(photo taken by yours truly in Bad Oyenhausen, Germany, 2008)