Most of us are familiar with the old bucket brigades. Prior to ladder trucks, long hoses, and trained firemen, volunteers assembled in a line and passed buckets of water from a source to douse on the flames. Although much less efficient than modern methods, it did save lives and property.
Imagine, however, if as the buckets were passed along, one individual decided not to pass it on. Suppose he bathed in it and took a long deep drink before sitting on the upturned empty bucket. Not only would his line-mates be very angry with him, but the efforts to save the burning building would be thwarted. What a dereliction of duty and misappropriation of resources!
This situation helps us understand and value our vital role in sharing Jesus with others. The good news of His saving grace has been passed to us from others with the understanding that it will indeed save our souls and benefit us, but that we will then pass it on to another. If we lounge in its blessings but neglect to pass it on, what an enormous disservice we have done!
According to evangelist Franklin Graham, there have been roughly 40 people in line from Jesus to us. One of the 12 original disciples was likely the first link in our chain and then it was passed from person to person down through the ages, across continents and cultures, through languages and wars, to finally reach us.
Praise God for the faithful men and women who passed Jesus’ bucket of salvation in spite of their own struggles so that someone else might be refreshed and the fires of hell extinguished for all who would receive and respond to it. Thankfully Jesus’ living water is just as powerful to save today as it was when He spoke to the woman beside Samaria’s well 2,000 years ago.
But the question for us is, “Will we pass it on to someone else?” In God’s design, none are gifted to be spiritual cul-de-sacs of His love and grace. Those who have experienced His transforming salvation are commissioned to be His distributors. Miraculously, the water level in the bucket never diminishes but rather multiplies as we share it with many.
Another way to think of this is with medicine for some terminal illness. The Pharmacist developed the remedy inserting His own blood to treat and cure selfishness, greed, lust, cowardice, and every human sin. He then handed it to His closest associates whom He commissioned to not only benefit from it themselves, but to pass it on to others who then would do the same.
Imagine if that medicine came to you, and it has, and you refuse or neglect to pass it to your children, friends, or coworkers. Not only will their condition go untreated but they will eventually suffer eternally for your negligence. Beyond that, the many people that they would have shared it with in current and future generations will also never benefit from this treatment.
Each follower of Jesus has important work to do in sharing His salvation with others. What a tragedy to be not just a weak link in His chain, but a failed link. His plan to reach the world includes and involves every believer.
In 2 Timothy 2:2, the Apostle Paul, who carried the bucket well, encouraged his apprentice Timothy to do the same. In this passage, Paul tells him, “The things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others.” Can you see the line forming?
I’m not sure how far down the line Paul could see, but today it’s our turn to carry Jesus’ bucket of blessing and to share it with others who will likewise pass it on. The need is every bit as great as a raging inferno or a deadly disease. Share Jesus with someone today! Blessings, George