Isaiah 55:10-11 As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

In the last two weeks I have had more than six inches of rain at my house. That is extremely unusual this time of year where I live. I am in no way complaining. In fact, I see this as a tremendous blessing from God. Usually, we are praying for rain throughout June, July and August in these parts. But God has showered His blessings from the heavens upon those who do not deserve them. He is the one who provides the watering that gives seed for the sower, bread for the eater, making the earth bud and flourish. It is a gift of God.

Water is a necessity for life. People can live for weeks without eating, but only about 3 days without water. Think about trying to live just one day without water. No shower. No washing your face. You would have to brush your teeth with just toothpaste and saliva. No flush toilets. No coffee or tea. No soda, milk, juice or any beverage. No dip in the pool. No Ice. Could you make it through a single day?

And let’s think about the other kind of watering the passage above mentions, the watering of God’s Word. God provides the rain in sufficient quantities to provide for our physical needs. He has provided His Word in even greater measure to meet and surpass all of our spiritual needs. People know they can’t live without water, yet many of them think they can live without God’s Word. But can you, really? You may be physically alive, but you will be spiritually dead without God’s Word. Unless you have that Word of God in your heart, believing that Jesus Christ is God’s Son and your Savior, you are spiritually dead. And those who are spiritually dead who then die physically will be eternally dead, which is something to be avoided.

The Good News is that eternal death is easily avoided. All you need to do is have the watering God’s Word provides. He tells us through Isaiah that His Word comes down from heaven for a purpose, to accomplish something. The purpose of God’s Word is very simple: your salvation, to save you from sin and death.

In his Pentecost Sermon, Peter told the people about Jesus when he said,

Acts 2:23 This man was handed over to you by God’s set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross.

Putting Jesus on the cross accomplished God’s purpose of saving mankind by letting Jesus pay the price for all sins. Jesus was God’s Word made flesh. That is how God speaks to us.

Hebrews 1:1-2  In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son…

The Son of God, the Word made flesh, came to accomplish God’s purpose, your salvation. God the Father sent Jesus for that reason, for that purpose. Paul wrote about that to the Ephesians:

Ephesians 3:11 …according to his eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.

The purpose of the written Word and the Word made flesh are the same – your salvation.

This text from Isaiah also says that God’s Word will accomplish what He desires. Do you know what God’s desire is?

1 Timothy 2:3-4 God our Savior…wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.

God’s desire is that everyone would know who Jesus is, believe in Him, and receive the benefit of what He did through His death and resurrection. Jesus accomplished God’s purpose of making forgiveness and eternal life available to all people. I would guess most of you reading this already know that. But there are too many who are not in your fortunate situation. There are all too many who are spiritually dead and in danger of dying eternally. God wants you to be involved in the process of making them disciples, letting them in on this good thing we have through Jesus. Share the Word, share Jesus, there by what you say and how you live.

It is not your job to make someone believe in Jesus. You don’t cause a person to believe any more than you can cause a plant to grow. That is God’s doing. That is why He gave you His Word. That is why He sent His Word in the world as one of us in the person of Jesus Christ. And that is why He sent His Holy Spirit to work through that Word in the lives and hearts and minds of people. God wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.  And He wants you to share that message so His Spirit can do His thing.