I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For

I STILL HAVEN’T FOUND WHAT I’M LOOKING FOR

I STILL HAVEN’T FOUND WHAT I’M LOOKING FOR: Lyrics by U2 © 2011.

The singer of this song talks about searching for meaning in life, and not finding it in nature, city life, relationships or religious experiences. “I still haven’t found what I’m looking for.”

Nature: I have climbed highest mountain, I have run through the fields

City Life: I have run, I have crawled, I have scaled these city walls

Relationships: I have kissed honey lips, Felt the healing in her fingertips

Religious Experience: I have spoke with the tongue of angels, I have held the hand of a devil

I believe in the kingdom come, Then all the colors will bleed into one

You broke the bonds and you, Loosed the chains;

Carried the cross, Of my shame, Of my shame, You know I believed it

But I still haven’t found what I’m looking for

PERSONAL TESTIMONY: All night drive-in question: “There’s got to be more to life!”

What’s the answer? Where do we find satisfaction, fulfillment and meaning in life?

BACKGROUND TO THE STORY:

“But Jesus needed to go through Samaria. So He came to a city of Samaria which is called Sychar, near the plot of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. Now Jacob’s well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied from His journey, sat thus by the well.” (John 4:4-6).

• Why did Jesus have to go through Samaria?

• He knew that there was a woman there who still hadn’t found what she was looking for.

• This woman had tried to find satisfaction in relationships with men – she has been married five times, and was living with a sixth guy – but she was still empty inside.

1. JESUS OFFERS TO US THE WATER OF LIFE:

“7 A woman of Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, "Give Me a drink." 8 For His disciples had gone away into the city to buy food. 9 Then the woman of Samaria said to Him, "How is it that You, being a Jew, ask a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?" For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans. 10 Jesus answered and said to her, "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ’Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water." 11 The woman said to Him, "Sir, You have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep. Where then do You get that living water? 12 Are You greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well, and drank from it himself, as well as his sons and his livestock?" 13 Jesus answered and said to her, "Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, 14 but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.” (John 4:7-14).

• Was Jesus talking about well water? No! He was talking about something much deeper!

• He said: There is water you can drink that will never quench your thirst.

• In other words, there are things in life you can go to for fulfillment, but they will never satisfy: drugs, alcohol, relationships, sexuality, money, power, fame.

• But the water Jesus offers will quench your thirst: it is a fountain of living water!

ILLUSTRATION:

A small boy is sent to bed by his father. Five minutes later he calls out, "Da-ad!"

"What?"

"I’m thirsty. Can you bring drink of water?"

"No. You had your chance. It’s lights out."

Five minutes later the boy calls out again: "Da-aaaad!"

"WHAT?"

"I’m THIRSTY. Can I have a drink of water?"

"I told you NO! If you ask again, I’ll have to spank you!"

Five minutes later he calls out again, “Daaaa-aaaad!"

"WHAT!"

"When you come in to spank me, can you bring a drink of water?"

2. WE HAVE A CHOICE TO MAKE:

“15 “The woman said to Him, "Sir, give me this water, that I may not thirst, nor come here to draw." 16 Jesus said to her, "Go, call your husband, and come here." 17 The woman answered and said, "I have no husband." Jesus said to her, "You have well said, ’I have no husband,’ 18 for you have had five husbands, and the one whom you now have is not your husband; in that you spoke truly." 19 The woman said to Him, "Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet.” (John 4:15-19).

• Before we will hunger and thirst after God, we must come to a place where we realize that the other things in our lives haven’t really satisfied!