Broken Cisterns

Is God Alone Enough for You?

"My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken Me, the Spring of Living Water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water." (Jeremiah 2:13) "Lord, You are the Hope of Israel; all who forsake You will be put to shame. Those who turn away from You will be written in the dust because they have forsaken the Lord, the Spring of Living Water." (Jeremiah 17:13)

God is called the Spring of Living Water. God is the only One who can satisfy our longings, heal our wounds, and make our lives fulfilled. We must be careful not to turn from God and dig our own cisterns. Our "broken cisterns" may be: human love (boyfriend/girlfriend, spouse), wealth, popularity, career, recognition, accomplishment, others' approval/ appreciation/admiration, or even ministries. I'm not saying that those are necessarily bad things. But are we looking for those things to fulfill and satisfy us? Those things will not last and sooner or later, they will fail us or disappoint us, leaving us feeling empty. Besides, they could become our idols if we place them above God...if we relentlessly pursue them, instead of God. People, places, and things are never meant to give us life's fulfillment. Christ alone is the Author of a fulfilling life! Only He can make us whole, complete, and fully satisfied. Don't settle for broken cisterns that cannot hold water...that can never fill you up. 

Drink This Living Water and Thirst No More

"Everyone who drinks this water (from the well) will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." ~Jesus (John 4:13-14)

Water from the well or from anywhere else has to be consumed again and again yet we will still be thirsty again and again. But the water Jesus gives will so completely satisfy us that we shall never thirst. Such is the refreshment of eternal life! We can draw a parallel to the repeated sacrifices required in the old covenant compared with the one-for-all sacrifice of the Lamb of God that fully satisfies God's wrath... that paid the penalty for our sins in full. By saying that He would bring living water that could forever quench a person's spiritual thirst, Jesus was claiming to be the Messiah. Only the Messiah could satisfy the soul's desire. We are complete in Christ alone.

"The great mistake made by most of the Lord's people is in hoping to discover in themselves that which is to be found in Christ alone." ~A.W. Pink