In the early 1950s, the world was hit by a major outbreak of poliomyelitis, a disease caused by the poliovirus. In 1952 alone, about 58,000 people were infected in the United States, and nearly 3,000 of them died. Even those who survived often suffered lifelong disabilities.
Then in 1955, Dr. Jonas Salk developed a vaccine that could prevent the disease altogether. This breakthrough had the potential not only to save countless lives but also to bring enormous wealth to Dr. Salk. However, instead of profiting from it, he made the vaccine freely available and even shared the formula for its production. When asked about patenting the vaccine, his famous reply was:
“Could you patent the sun?”
Thanks to the vaccine, polio infections began to decline. President Eisenhower awarded Dr. Salk an order of merit and honored him as a “benefactor of humanity.”
Like Dr. Salk said, no one holds a patent on the sun because the Creator, God, gave it freely to all people. In the same way, God gave us essential elements for life, like water and air, without cost. If these had a price tag, the cost of human survival would be astronomical.
Just as God provides for our physical life, He also offers the “water of life,” essential for our spiritual well-being, freely through the Spirit and the Bride.
We have received it at no cost, but that doesn’t mean it lacks value; on the contrary, it is priceless. God is truly the greatest benefactor and Savior of humanity.
“The Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come!’ And let the one who hears say, ‘Come!’ Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.” Rev 22:17