Wall Drug

Isaiah 55:1-9

 

In 1931 Dorothy and Ted Hustead bought a small drug store in Wall, SD on the edge of the Badlands. Following the Great Depression, there were 326 poor people who lived in Wall. The Hustead’s worked the drug store for 5 years eking out a sparse existence.

 

Then, in the summer of 1936, everything changed.

 

It was a very, very hot afternoon when Dorothy had an idea. She thought, just maybe

all the people driving by their store on Route 16A might be thirsty, and if they offered free water, just maybe they would stop. Today, Wall Drug is a national tourist attraction with 76,000 square feet of store space; thanks to free water.

 

Isaiah wrote, “Say there! Is anyone thirsty? Come and drink—even if you have no money! Come, take your choice of wine and milk—it’s all free! ² Why spend your money on food that doesn’t give you strength? Why pay for groceries that do you no good? Listen and I’ll tell you where to get good food that fattens up the soul!”  TLB

 

For Isaiah, this is not a marketing ploy to bring customers into his store. It is an invitation to you, to me, to your co-worker, to the clerk at McDonalds, to the driver who cut you off… you get the idea. It is an open invitation for everyone to come to the Lord for our soul to be filled.

 

John wrote in Revelation to the church in Laodicea, ^16 “So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. ¹⁷ You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.”  NIV

 

It doesn’t sound like life has changed all that much since John’s days. We still find all kinds of things to take the place of what truly fulfills; what truly quenches our thirst. The Good News is that Jesus is always seeking us.

 

John also wrote to the church in Laodicea,

 ^20 “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.”       NIV

 

"Get a soda . . .

Get a root beer . . .

Turn next corner . . .

Just as near . . .

To Highway 16 & 14. . .

Free Ice Water. . .

Wall Drug."

While reading this, you can visualize the signage as you are driving down the 2 lane highway of Route 16A.

 

 

 

What signs has God put in your life to draw you to Him? How has He used you in the lives of others as a sign to draw them to the Lord?