What’s your source of life? Where do you look for refreshment, for vitality, for—well—life?

The Bible tells us that God created the heavens and the earth. He created light over the earth and then separated the water from the earth and sky. It’s a familiar story. As we continue to read the account of creation in Genesis 1, we see that once God had created earth and water and sky, everything else was drawn from its source of life. For instance, He drew the sun and moon from the light. He commanded the water, and it brought forth life: sea creatures and everything that lives in the ocean. He commanded the earth, and it brought forth life: animals, plants, all living things on the earth. He commanded the air, and it, too, produced life: birds, insects, and all things that fly came into existence.

But when it came time to create man, God did something different. He physically picked up a handful of earth, and He formed it until it reflected His image. And then He blew His breath into man. Without that breath, man was not yet living.

Remove a fish from water. No matter how pretty the place you put it, if there’s no water, it will die. Drop a dog in the middle of an ocean with no dry land, and it will die. Remove a plant from the ground and put it solely in water or air. It won’t be long before it dies, too. Each created being needs its power source to remain alive.

So what about man? When Adam and Eve sinned, mankind’s connection with holy God was severed. Completely. By its nature, sin must divide us from all that is holy. From God. Through that one initial act of disobedience, all mankind was removed from its source of life.

Without God, mankind is dead. Oh, we walk around. We look alive. But inside, without God, we are nothing more than B-rated zombies. But God knew this, and He made a way so that we can be reconciled with our source of life. What did He do? Look at Romans 5:18–19:

Yes, Adam’s one sin brings condemnation for everyone, but Christ’s one act of righteousness brings a right relationship with God and new life for everyone. Because one person disobeyed God, many became sinners. But because one other person obeyed God, many will be made righteous.

Jesus Christ died on the cross, taking the burden of sin—the very thing that separates us from God—so that we could live again.

Are you connected to your source of life? Are you rejoicing in new life, or are you still wandering around like some two-bit character in Night of the Living Dead? Reconnection is a choice each of us must make individually. Jesus is waiting to do spiritual CPR—to breathe back into your body the breath of life. All you have to do is ask. He says so in John 1:12: “to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.”

Don’t wait any longer to receive life. Jesus is our breath, our living water, our source of life. Look to Him for refreshment. For vitality. For life. You can look, but you won’t find it anywhere else.

by Rachel F. Overton

Photo by Alexandru Tudorache