Night was not far away. As if Eeefo, the deer, thought that it was time for a change from the long day, he strolled out of the woods. To the edge of the woods, sure enough, his eyes gave a sight to some good munching. He then began nibbling on the dry honeysuckle with great disinterest in what else might be going on. The honeysuckle had such a good aroma in the spring, and now dried, was still a treat! Farmer Jim had seen that the hay in the field had been cut and baled. Now, the bales were gone from the field, but some straggly pieces of hay were here and there in the field. Just then, two more deer came from the ridge as Eeefo continued his grazing. Walking on into the field, the two grazed on what they found on the ground of the cut hay field. Enjoying the late evening, Eeefo walked on down in the field, too. Was he going to go to Farmer Jim’s salt lick to the right of the field? Would the other deer join? The deer did enjoy the salt lick and the ponds. Soon, another deer came out of the woods and thinking not of harm, began grazing. Occasionally, one would lift a head into the air as if checking on what was going on. Eeefo and the other deer had a good memory. They remembered when to come out to eat in the field. They especially remembered when thirsty where the pond was to the right of the field and Farmer Jim’s pond across the road. He had seen deer at his pond sucking up the water wholeheartedly. He had seen them at the other pond to the right of the field, too. Again, now in the field, one deer would stick his head up and then another would stick a head up. Standing very quiet, they observed! Were they troubled? Was Eeefo sensing something? Eeefo kept his head up high. Why were they so quiet? Eeefo listened! Thinking it time for change, Eeefo and his companions started a quiet walk and then Eeefo gave a huge leap. Off he went, leaping at a rapid speed. His companions joined him. They sped! They were then out of sight. Where had they gone? Did they go to Farmer Jim’s pond again? Were they thirsty? The psalmist said, “As the hart [deer] panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. My Soul thirsteth for God...” (Psalm 42:1-2a). The psalmist thirsted for God. Eeefo and his companions were thirsty and were temporarily satisfied with water from the ponds. They would thirst again. We thirst! In John 4, Jesus told of a water that would quench our thirst. It would spring up into everlasting life. It’s great! Jesus was weary of His journey one day. He sat down by Jacob’s well to rest. A woman of Samaria came to draw water from the well. Jesus talked to her and said, “But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life” (John 4:14). Desiring the water, the woman said, “Sir, give me this water that I thirst not...” (John 4:15). She was thrilled and left her water pots and went to her city and spread the good news. Others came to believe. Many didn’t perish! “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16) We need not perish either. Eeefo and the deer had to go down the hill from the ridge to the ponds to drink. Jesus tread to Golgotha, carrying the cross (John 19:17). On the hill, He was nailed to the cross for us. “Who was delivered for our offenses, and was raised again for our justification” (Roman 4:25). “But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities … and the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:5-6) God raised Him from the dead on the third day (John 20). And this is great news! We need not perish! Eeefo and the deer longed for the water brooks. We can look to Jesus Christ. We may have the water of life freely. Just as Eeefo and his companions did drink freely, we may drink a drink that springs up to everlasting life. It’s free! Jesus said, “... let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely” (Revelation 22:17). Eeefo’s sight went to the dried honeysuckle and he partook. We may look to Jesus Christ for everlasting life. We may partake. His words are, as penned by the prophet of old, “Look unto Me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is none else” (Isaiah 45:22). —A. S. Newkirk Read also: Rom. 3:23, Rom 6:23, Rom 5:8, Rom. 10:13, & John 1:12
