Celebrate with the water of life: The Holy Spirit

Uisge Beatha

The Water of Life

One of my favourite Christmas gifts this year can be seen in the pic. It's a handmade whisky decanter from my best friend and his wife. The words in Scottish Gaelic (please do not pronounce as gay-lic, it is pronounced as gaa-lic), on the front are uisge beatha (pronounced as oosh biva), which in English translates to the water of life. As we near the end of 2024 and the beginning of 2025 an unusual topic is on my mind. Alcohol and drunkenness. In Scotland there is commonly a celebration of all three. Hogmany, New Year and excessive consumption of alcohol.

“Why not?!” I hear many say. But that is a question that most have no intention of listening to the answer.

Alcohol misuse and abuse in Scotland is estimated to cost £2.25 Billion per year. But the cost in personal suffering , family breakdown and violence in society cannot be measured. Scotland is well known for having a bad reputation when it comes to alcohol. One of the most famous Hogmanay comedy sketches comes from the miserable Presbyterian church minister Rev IM Jolly. The church leader is characterised as a miserable moaner who only finds a bit of happiness by getting drunk on the “water” that has been switched for vodka.

I remember as a young boy attending a miserable Presbyterian church. The services brought one dirging hymn after another. Each tune ending on the lowest note the organist could possibly find. Miserable.
It was only in my late teens that I heard the gospel being preached for the first time. Instead of a message of misery, I heard Good News that brought great joy. Real joy, lasting joy. A living hope. In my mid teens I experimented with alcohol to see what it felt like. I got very drunk and very sick. And very ill. This new year I’ll be enjoying a dram with the bells but I’ve found another Spirit who brings lasting joy and peace in my heart. He’s called the Holy Spirit.
“And don’t get drunk with wine, which leads to reckless living, but be filled by the Spirit:”
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭5‬:‭18‬ ‭CSB‬‬
Elsewhere in the Bible we are told of a living hope we can have through faith in Jesus Christ. That living hope will never perish, spoil or fade and brings joy unspeakable and is full of glory (1 Peter 1). Have you tasted and seen that the Lord is good? Ps 34:8. Seek him now while he may be found. I was first filled with the Holy Spirit 35 years ago when I was 19. My eyes were opened to heavenly and spiritual realities. A love for Jesus Christ exploded in my heart. That love and flame is still burning today.
Raise a glass this new year to celebrate the gift of a new beginning. But don’t put your hope in broken cisterns that can hold no water. Come to Jesus Christ. He is the only one who offers the real water of life, the Holy Spirit of God, who gives everlasting joy.
Richard H H Johnston

Director of Christian Mindfulness

Leave a Reply