Tuesday, August 29, 2006

The Fountain Of Living Waters

The Fountain Of Living Waters

Jeremiah 2:5-9 Thus saith the LORD, What iniquity have your fathers found in me, that they are gone far from me, and have walked after vanity, and are become vain? Neither said they, Where is the LORD that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, that led us through the wilderness, through a land of deserts and of pits, through a land of drought, and of the shadow of death, through a land that no man passed through, and where no man dwelt? And I brought you into a plentiful country, to eat the fruit thereof and the goodness thereof; but when ye entered, ye defiled my land, and made mine heritage an abomination. The priests said not, Where is the LORD? and they that handle the law knew me not: the pastors also transgressed against me, and the prophets prophesied by Baal, and walked after things that do not profit. Wherefore I will yet plead with you, saith the LORD, and with your children's children will I plead.

The Lord God led Israel out of Egypt, provided for them in the barren wilderness, and led them to the Promised Land - a land where He would provide all their needs for them and give them the victory, if they would only trust Him. Unfortunately, they walked after vanity; they turned to false Gods instead of the true and living God; they ran after the things of the world, instead of the things of God - the pleasures of sin for a season - things that could never truly satisfy their souls.

Jeremiah 2:11 Hath a nation changed their gods, which are yet no gods? but my people have changed their glory for that which doth not profit.

Jeremiah 2:13 For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.

Jeremiah 2:17-19 Hast thou not procured this unto thyself, in that thou hast forsaken the LORD thy God, when he led thee by the way? And now what hast thou to do in the way of Egypt, to drink the waters of Sihor? or what hast thou to do in the way of Assyria, to drink the waters of the river? Thine own wickedness shall correct thee, and thy backslidings shall reprove thee: know therefore and see that it is an evil thing and bitter, that thou hast forsaken the LORD thy God, and that my fear is not in thee, saith the Lord GOD of hosts.

It is sad, when they had a refreshing, ever-flowing, never-ceasing fountain of living waters right in front of them, they turned to broken cisterns (stagnant, stale, limited water) - but not only that - their cisterns were broken. Even the waters that the world offered failed, were not flowing, ran dry! The cisterns of this world could never bring peace, contentment, joy, satisfaction - it was all vanity of vanities - empty, worthless, of no profit. One day, the temporary pleasures of the world will prove to be only empty cisterns that leave you dry, barren, lifeless, and without hope.

Jeremiah 2:32 Can a maid forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? yet my people have forgotten me days without number.

It is sad when even God's people turn from the fountain of living waters to the broken cisterns of the world - oh, the deceitfulness of sin! Too often we forget the Lord in our daily lives, and strive to find pleasure and fulfillment in anything other than in Jesus Christ. And the stagnant water these broken cisterns contain will always run dry and leave you unfulfilled. Contentment is found only in Jesus.

Jeremiah 17:13 O LORD, the hope of Israel, all that forsake thee shall be ashamed, and they that depart from me shall be written in the earth, because they have forsaken the LORD, the fountain of living waters.

Israel had forsaken their hope - their confident expectation for their future was not in the Lord. Too often Christians do the same - we let the world sidetrack us, and turn from the way. We live for the things of the world, rather than the things of God; we lay up our treasures here rather than in Heaven; we set our affections on the things of earth rather than the things above. It is no wonder that there is no water flowing in our deserts - we are barren, dry, languishing.

It is interesting that in Jeremiah 17:13, it says they that depart from me shall be written in the earth. Instead of being written in Heaven, too often the people of this world settle for living for only what they can see down here - they are written in the earth and they perish with it. But Jesus offers something better - He offers abundant life, life that can satisfy, and a name written in Heaven (in the Lamb's Book of Life).

John 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

The Devil's plan for your life is to ruin it - but the Lord's plan for your life is to make it more abundant - in Him!

The things and pleasures of this world can never satisfy, can never bring lasting fulfillment - only God Himself can satisfy that longing He has placed for spiritual things in our souls - that thirsting we feel deep down inside. Only He can bring true fulfillment. The broken cisterns of the world only offer vanity, emptiness, despair, hopelessness. But the God of all hope offers far more.

As stated above, Jesus offers what this world never could: life, peace, hope, contentment, satisfaction, joy, fulfillment, and a purpose. And it is found only in Him - the fountain of living waters.

John 4:10 Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.

In talking with the Samaritan woman at the well, the Lord Jesus Christ revealed to her that there was living water available for the asking. As the conversation went on, He explained to her how He was that source, that fountain.

John 4:13-14 Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

The broken cisterns of this world can never fulfill the emptiness or thirst in our lives, but after we have drunk of its pleasures, we will soon realize that we are still thirsty, still barren, dry, lifeless. But it doesn't have to be that way.

Jesus Christ, the Son of God and only Saviour, the Messiah foretold all throughout the Old Testament, came and died for our sins upon the cross - died in our place, taking the punishment we deserve, was buried and rose again the third day. Sin has been paid for and salvation is a free gift. Why not turn from your sin today - it will never satisfy in the long run - and turn to the Saviour? Receive Him and drink of the fountain of living waters that will NEVER run dry.

Revelation 7:17 For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.

Which will you settle for? The broken cisterns of the world, of sin, that can hold no water - or the ever-flowing water of life, the fountain of living waters, that are only found in the Saviour. Only Jesus can give you that abundant life. It is offered to the thirsty soul - to whosoever will.

Revelation 22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

Are you willing? Are you thirsty? Take a drink and you need never thirst again.

It's Jesus

There's a refuge to be found in the midst of life's storms,
There's a peace so profound it will guard your heart from harm,
Where is this shelter under the everlasting arms?
It's Jesus.

There's only one Saviour who died to make men free,
One source of Living Water that flows abundantly,
One plan of salvation - Are you thirsty? Come and see.
It's Jesus.

God was manifest in the flesh when He came down to earth,
The Son of God who became a Man through the virgin birth,
One sacrifice for sins forever - His love gives us worth,
It's Jesus.

There's only one sinless Man whose life He gave,
Only one Man who arose victorious over the grave,
There's only one Saviour who can ever save,
It's Jesus.

There's only one fountain of blood that can cleanse all sin,
Only one Spirit of Life that will dwell within,
True righteousness is found only in Him -
It's Jesus.

Revelation 21:6 And He said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.

Poem written October 22nd/03
(Poem edited slightly and added middle verse on February 19th, 2022)
Study written October 18th/05
Jerry Bouey

Lord willing, I will be building upon this theme in the next post:

Song of Solomon 4:15 ...a well of living waters...
A Well Of Living Waters (SOS series)

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