Thirsty? I remember learning to drink from the water fountain in the foyer of the Means Memorial United Methodist Church. I was just a kid, but fortunately there was a standing stool in front of the fountain. You probably don’t want a stool in front of a water fountain anymore, at least not in a public place. Mom used to say, “Don’t put your lips on it!” but that’s pretty hard to do when you’re a kid. It took me awhile, but I finally got the hang of it.

To this day, I’ve never had more bitingly cold water. Something about that cooler—they must’ve cranked it to just above freezing, because ice seemed warmer! I’ll never forget how hot the summer days could get in Andrews, Texas and how cold and refreshing that water was.

Somehow we all seem to know instinctively how precious water is to life. It is one of the first words babies learn to say. Jesus spoke of thirst in his dying words from the cross. When astronomers seek for planets in the universe that might support life, what are they really looking for? Water. The chemical signature of water is unique. Scientists can detect its presence by the unique thumbprint in the light spectrum.

Why is water so important? We take it for granted—it’s everywhere. It covers more than 70% of the earth’s surface and makes up three quarters of your body. Here’s the question I’m getting at: What is it about water? Where did it come from? Why is it so special?

When I got older (and had no problem drinking from a water fountain), I learned in chemistry that water molecules have a peculiar makeup. The hydrogen atoms attach to the oxygen at a slightly odd angle, because the electrons attached to the hydrogen atoms repel each other, while the oxygen atoms share and attract these same electrons. They are bonded together in a delicate dance. Because of the unique properties of the water molecule and the slightly odd angle that the hydrogen atoms form with the oxygen, water has a peculiar characteristic. The solid form, ice, is actually lighter than cold liquid water slightly above freezing temperature.

So what? Well, if water behaved like almost every other substance, the solid form would sink, just like a stone. But ice floats. Put some in your glass, it works every time! Think about it: those ice cubes floating in the top are really astounding. If water behaved like almost every other substance in the universe, our oceans would be frozen solid. There would be no way for the sun to penetrate the miles and miles of deep ocean ice, and our planet would be a frozen block of frost spinning lifelessly around a lonely sun in a forgotten corner of the universe.

There is no way to predict how water behaves. We have to observe it, we have to measure it, and we have to learn. It’s just how it’s made. It was made with these unique properties that allow ice to float and permit life to exist on this planet. What are the odds that it would just “work out that way”?

In a very real way, the next drink of water you enjoy was made for you. Think about that the next time you have a drink, and thank the Maker of Water.

“Jesus answered her, ‘If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.’” John 4:10