Lessons learned from a diet coke bottle

Ok – I’m a preacher, it’s what I do, it’s who I am. I love looking for illustrations in everyday things. So, I’ve had to face some tough facts in recent days… I’ve been trying to fight it… but I’m addicted to Diet Coke. I know I know… that stuff is for old folks (that’s what I used to think!) Growing up, it’s all my mom had around, so I got used to drinking the stuff. I realized while in college that I was consuming my daily amount of calories from many cans of Dr. Pepper… I figured if I was going to drink something with Caffeine, it might as well be Diet Coke – so here I am nearly 29 years old and hooked on the stuff.

When I have a tough day, I will typically grab a 2 Liter bottle of Diet Coke and a big bag of flamin’ hot cheetos (don’t knock it til you try it!) that’s better than it used to be. While in seminary, after bombing a greek test, I’d head out late at night while the “hot” sign was lit up at Krispy Kreme and order a dozen glazed and a large diet coke. It never failed, they always laughed at me and asked “what’s the diet coke for? to balance it all out?” I’d give that sarcastic laugh and take the goods back to the house where I would usually consume all of it before bed. Amazingly I still have my chiseled body (minus a few hairs on my head!)

So, my wife and I will be strolling through the grocery store and she’ll see me grab a 2 Liter of diet coke. She never says anything, but I get this look from her that if I know her well enough she’s saying “good grief. men. it’s not like you have cans of the stuff in the fridge, what’s wrong with them?” it’s a look that puts me in barbaric company. So I turn on David Letterman tonight and crack my 2 liter of Diet Coke. I love drinking from that bottle because I can take a really big gulp every time. You can’t really do that with a little can of the stuff. It’s pure satisfaction.

And that got me thinking again…

When Jesus met the woman at the well in John 4, they were having discussions about thirst, and what would truly quench her deepest thirst. The woman didn’t have the greatest reputation in town, and was probably out drawing water from the well during a time when she knew others wouldn’t be there. She didn’t want to face any more ridicule, she had had enough. She was looking to have some of her most basic (and greatest) needs satisfied. I love what Jesus says to her; “whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.” (John 4:14 NASB) People search for satisfaction in so many different things these days, but always end up feeling empty and thirsty for more of what the world has to offer. It’s a vicious circle that often leaves people at the bottom of a very deep, dry, and lonely well. Trust me, Jesus is the real deal, the offer is always available, but you have to ask yourself; “how thirsty are you?”

May you drink deep of the water Jesus offers to you today…