the spout that never runs out

Adjusting to life in a motor home can be quite a challenge.  Many little things that we take for granted are simply not part of our everyday life anymore.  For example, we no longer have an office with shelves and a large desk or a dining room with a large table.  Instead, we have a small table that serves as our office and our dining room.  So you can just imagine the clutter.  We no longer have plenty of counter space.  We have one tiny counter top to use when cooking.  There is no privacy.  If we get up in the middle of the night, the other person knows it.  In fact, you can’t even go to the bathroom without the other person knowing it.
But the one thing that I miss the most, is taking a hot shower that lasts as long as I want it to last. When you are not only limited to the total amount of water you can use but you also know that the hot water heater is not very big, you learn to use your water sparingly.  You no longer stand in the shower enjoying the endless supply of water.  It’s as if you are on a mission.  Turn the water on, get your hair wet.  Turn the water off, wash your hair.  Turn the water on, rinse you hair and get your washcloth wet.  Turn the water off, apply conditioner to your hair, shave your legs, and wash your body.  Turn the water on, rinse off, and get out.  And believe me; I am doing all of this at a high rate of speed.  But nevertheless, I have mastered the process.  I can take a shower in a record of amount of time.
Upon returning home on Monday as I was getting in the shower, my first thought was Hallelujah; I can take my time and use as much water as I want.  As I was reflecting on my showers in the motor home, I was reminded of how Christians, including myself, sometimes live.  When the water is on represents when we are under the will of God.  The water is hot and it feels good.  When the water is turned off represents when we have stepped out from the will of God.  Maybe we have grown discouraged because of a current situation or maybe we have committed some sins that we need to confess.  Whatever the reason, it’s not a good feeling.  However, we constantly go back and forth.  Turn it on, turn it off.
According to Timothy, “And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant with faith and love which is in Jesus Christ.” I am so thankful that God’s grace is not like my motor home water supply. I don’t have to worry about God turning it on and off and I don’t even have to worry about the supply running out.  His grace is exceedingly abundant.  Even when we stray from God’s will, we are still under his grace.  Just imagine how hopeless we would be if there was a limited amount of grace that we could use and once we used it all that was it.  It was over.  We had used all our chances.
So just as it feels so good to stand under the hot running water, think about how good it feels when you are in the will of God and how awful it fills when you step out from under God’s will.  Therefore, we need to strive to always be under God’s will allowing his grace to flow through us.  I think this is what Jesus meant in John 4:14 when he was talking to the woman at the well.  Jesus said, “But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.”  This living water is available to all of us, so let’s drink from the spout that never runs out!