The Fountain

For thousands of years tales of a fountain of youth have been recounted around the world in writings Herodotus (5th century BC), the Alexander Romance (3rd century AD), the stories of Presser John (11th/12th centuries AD) and even among the indigenous peoples of the Caribbean (16th century AD).  The legend reached a high-water mark when it became attached to Spanish explorer Ponce de Leon, who was said to have been searching for it in what is now Florida in the 16th century AD.

Today, if you go to the 11 Magnolia Ave, St Augustine, Florida, you will arrive at Ponce de Leon's Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park, where you can drink from the legendary fountain.  However, from what I can tell of the grey, white and blue hairs that flock to Florida after retirement, it doesn't work very well.  But hey, give it a shot if you like.  I'm going to pass.

Not to be detoured by a lack of an actual fountain of youth, Americans have turned to the alternatives of spa treatments, tummy tucks, face lifts, elixirs produced in labs and promoted on late night TV - all to turn back a clock that in reality won't even slow down, let alone back up.  As the Bible says, "...people are destined to die..." (Heb 9:27).  Physical death is our destiny, there is no flex here.

However, that doesn't mean there isn't a fountain where life is restored and, in fact, everlastingly so.  As Jesus told the woman at the well, "Whoever drinks the water I hive them will never thirst.  Indeed, the water I have them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life" (Jn 4:14).  There is a fountain but it is not to be found in St Augustine, Florida, but rather inside of you, if you accept the water of life Jesus offers.

This fountain is not found in a physical spring rushing with the water of this world but instead in the spiritual relationship with the living God.  "Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent" (Jn 17:3).  And when we come to know God through faith in Jesus Christ, "as the Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them" (Jn 7:38).  The fountain of life exist.  Why not drink from it?  Jus' Ask'n.