“For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, and hewn themselves cisterns—broken cisterns that can hold no water.” (Jeremiah 2:13)
Have you ever been in a place where pure water was difficult to find? I’ve visited a few places where the water was questionable. I live where an abundant supply of good water is available, so it seemed strange to use bottled water to brush my teeth. However, I’d been warned I could make myself sick by using tap water even for that simple routine. Although the water looked as clear as my water at home, there were invisible contaminates. I would be foolish to turn that tap.
Precious and Essential
Water is a precious, and essential, commodity, one I may not realize the value of as much as I should. At any time, I can turn on the faucet and out flows clean, clear water. Not everyone is so blessed.
From beginning to end, the Bible mentions water frequently. The opening verses of Genesis speak of water, and the last chapter of Revelation tells us, “And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely (22:17). Isaac’s herdsmen contended over water (Genesis 26). One of the plagues God sent upon the Egyptians made their water undrinkable (Exodus 7). But the most important references are when the Word speaks of the living water.
What is living water? It is any source of naturally flowing water. Living water is not stagnant or brackish.
Twice in the New Testament, Jesus refers to living water. The first was when He encountered the Samaritan woman at the well (John 4). He said she could have “a well of water springing up into everlasting life” and she would never thirst again (verse 14). Then in John 7 He again speaks of this living water.
“On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’ Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified” (John 7:37-39, ESV).
This flowing, living water of which Jesus spoke was the Spirit that would fill the believers after He was glorified.
Broken Cisterns
Jeremiah 2 says that God’s chosen people had forsaken Him, the fountain of living water, and instead chose to drink out of cisterns (water tanks) that were so broken they couldn’t even hold water. They traded purity and clarity for an impure substitute. Why would anyone carelessly choose contaminated water over the living (flowing) water the Bible promises?
The choice is ours. Will we drink from the broken cisterns of the world’s contaminated water, or will we drink of the pure living water of the Spirit? Only the living water will satisfy our thirst forever.
Thank You, Lord, for the fresh flowing water of the Spirit. It refreshes my soul and satisfies my thirst for You. Help me never to drink from the broken cisterns of the world’s water but only desire the purity of this living water.
Comments are closed.