Broken Cisterns

“…My people have changed their glory for that which does not profit. Be appalled, O heavens, at this, and shudder, be very desolate,” declares the LORD.  “For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, to hew for themselves cisterns, broken cisterns that can hold no water.”

In the above verses God is telling Israel through Jeremiah that they have forsaken Him, the fountain of living waters and made their own source of water; cisterns that they think will supply all their need for water, but they are broken and useless.  They have traded true Glory for their own.  

Unfortunately, just like Israel, I do that too.  I get impatient.  I think I can do way too many things on my own and I become satisfied with my own version of what God wants to give me. For some reason I think my way is good enough.  It should get me by until God decides to get around to me in my timing and doing it my way.   What do I get for my efforts?  Broken cisterns that hold no water.  Emptiness.  Nothing that fulfills or satisfies.

Yet, though I am rebellious, impatient, and self-centered, and storm mountains I’m not supposed to storm, I take hope from Jeremiah’s words to Israel.  “My wayward children,” says the LORD, “come back to me, and I will heal your wayward hearts.” (Jeremiah 3:22a NLT) My hope is that God will extend that same grace to me; his other rebellious child.  Ephesians 2:1-10 fulfills that hope:

“As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” 

I pray that these verses will give you hope and help fuel your worship of the One who extends us grace out of great love for us.

“Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. (Acts 20:32)

Trading in those broken cisterns with you,

Lisa