Jesus Christ once promised that "whoever believed in Him would have rivers of living water flowing from within (John 7:38," but people's sins have to be pardoned first before they can become followers of Jesus.
Pastor Jim Cymbala from the non-denominational church Brooklyn Tabernacle says on his blog that the first thing people must do is confess their sins and accept the atoning sacrifice of Jesus on the cross.
Once people do so, Cymbala assures them the debt of their sins will be paid in full, and they can now call on Jesus and say, "I'm thirsty, Lord. You not only promised me forgiveness; you promised me fulfillment."
However, Cymbala stresses that people need to have a personal, intimate relationship with Jesus first before they can find true fulfilment.
"You have to say, 'Jesus, I am thirsty, and I know you didn't plan for me to live this way. I'm thankful for all the physical things you've given me, but inside I have an emptiness and a yearning for something more, and I'm not ashamed to admit it,'" says Cymbala.
"Whether you're a senior citizen or sixteen years old; whether you're rich or poor; or whether you're white, black, Asian, or Latino; the promise is for you. Remember: Jesus didn't say, 'If anyone's thirsty, let them come to church.' You can go to church and never get to Jesus. You can even own a Bible and never get to Him," he adds.
He is urging Christians today to declare the authority of God's Word that only Jesus truly satisfies. Cymbala says people should turn to Jesus and ask Him to change their lives so they can finally experience peace and joy in His Word. "You will be glad you did," Cymbala added.
