Are You a Geyser, a Well or a Fire Hydrant?

If you are reading these words, then the answer is “No!” You’re not a fire hydrant. But, my question is not one of physical concern. It’s a spiritual issue.

The Church body is just that. It’s a body made up of many diverse members that are unified in their core purpose. The core purpose and unifying factor of the Church is Jesus.

Paul describes this picture in 1 Corinthians 12:

“¹² Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. ¹³ For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. ¹⁴ Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.”

From this description, Paul goes on to say that one member should not desire to be another member or be so prideful to think other members are unnecessary. Except the appendix. That body part seems unnecessary.

Paul, of course, would disagree. In the Church, all members are integral, as God has a purpose for each and every part no matter how small. Just as He knit you together in your mother’s womb, so He also knit together the various fibers of the Church. The Lord wants all the members of the body of Christ to be vibrant Kingdom warriors.

Unfortunately, this is not the case.

Water Pressure

Regarding the work of God in and through the Church, I like thinking of a water pressure system. It seems appropriate to label the water as “God” since Jesus described Himself as the source of living water (See John 4). The Lord flows through the Church and its members, displaying His radiance and letting His Spirit move. As a result, we (the body) are the pipes, the valves, the filters, the pumps, etc. We are also an opening through which God moves.

However, we must be willing to let God move.

There is a heuristic principle that warrants application in the spiritual context: The Path of Least Resistance

In a very general sense, the flow of a water current will follow the path that has the least amount of resistance. Once an obstacle presents itself, the water current may change course.

In the spiritual sense, God desires the path of least resistance in His followers. God desires a willing, submissive heart through which He can work.

So, what type of vessel are you?

It seems to me that there are at least three different types of vessels in the Church:

The Three Vessels

• The Geyser

This is the willing and faithful follower of Christ, completely and utterly surrendered to His will. The work of the Lord builds and builds from within this member. In fact, the presence of the Lord is so apparent in this individual that you only see God.

Think about it. If you’ve ever been to Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming, you probably made your way over to see Old Faithful. If you were lucky enough to be present while it was erupting (or if you have seen pictures), what do you recall? I don’t think I would walk away from that experience, thinking, “Wow! That opening in the ground was amazing!” No! My focus would be on the strength, the power, the beauty of the water.

The life of the faithful, submissive individual is that opening in the ground through which the Lord can do His amazing works. As a result, the world sees and remembers Jesus, not the individual. By not resisting God, the desire to spring forth and pursue the will of God builds and builds, and the Lord bursts forth in all His majesty.

• The Well

This is the lukewarm follower of Christ, failing to realize the wonderful gift that he or she holds beneath the surface. The Lord is always ready to work in the individual’s life, but for whatever reason, the source of life remains untapped except for rare occasions.

A water well is an artificial construction. The purpose of its excavation is to provide life and water, but the water is only obtained when someone wants it. On that occasion, the bucket or container is lowered down to the dormant water only to get as much as the operator desires.

Like a well, this individual in the faith community is stifling the work of God in his or her personal life. This person leaves God untapped until he or she wants or needs something from Him. As a result, the world sees an artificial construction, and the life-giving water of the Lord is hidden beneath the surface.

• The Fire Hydrant

This is the obstinate follower of Christ, purposefully working against the will of the Lord due to fear, anger, sin, disobedience, etc. The Lord has revealed Himself and His plan, but this man or woman desires to do something else, perhaps completely opposite of the Lord’s will.

Taking pieces from the geyser and the well, the water pressure is strong and ready to bubble forth, but an artificial construction is placed over the ground opening. The water is ready to move, but the fire hydrant stops it and works against it.

If this doesn’t describe Jonah, I don’t know what does. The Lord gave specific instructions for Jonah to preach in Nineveh, and Jonah thought, “No…Tarshish sounds better.” Tarshish, located in the complete opposite direction of Nineveh, was not the will of the Lord. So, what happened? The Lord hit “Override” on Jonah’s plans. Enter the whale.

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[quote bar=”true” align=”center”]However, we must be willing to let God move.[/quote]

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That’s what I love about this picture. The fire hydrant is an artificial attempt to stop the Lord’s work. But, who are we kidding? We can’t stop the Lord. He will assume His role as the firefighter and unleash the water beneath the surface because it His will. The fire hydrant doesn’t have a say in the matter, and we can choose to bow to the force of the current or continue fighting in vain.

Resistance is futile in the Kingdom of God. But, then again, why would you want to resist God’s work in your life? Submitting to the Lord provides an everlasting source of joy, hope, love, peace, and power.

Winston Churchill once said, “Victory will never be found by taking the path of least resistance.” In regards to following God, I must respectfully disagree.

Victory can only be found by taking the path of least resistance.

Z. Montgomery