Jeremiah 2:12-13 New International Version (NIV)

¹² Be appalled at this, you heavens, and shudder with great horror,” declares the Lord. ¹³ “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.

Message Version

“Stand in shock, heavens, at what you see!   Throw up your hands in disbelief—this can’t be!”

GOD’s Decree:

“My people have committed a compound sin:   They've walked out on me, the fountain Of fresh flowing waters, and then dug cisterns- cisterns that leak, cisterns that are no better than sieves.

I have to admit when I read this passage in church on Sunday I was really happy when Pastor pulled out the cups with holes in them to demonstrate what GOD is saying here.   We have the capacity to set and achieve goals that bring satisfaction to us.  But the problem is unless those achievements are connected to the source (the SPRING of living water, the FOUNTAIN of fresh flowing waters) the satisfaction they brought us soon drains away.

The example Pastor used in the clip of football star Tom Brady who had a lifelong goal and dream of becoming a super bowl champion quarterback.   Tom achieved his goal three times over, yet he said, shocking the TV interviewer, is this all there is to it?  There has to be more?  Here is this young man with his dreams fulfilled three times over, the world literally at his feet yet there was still something missing.

There is now a cable TV reality show entitled something like “I won the Lottery”.   It is amazing to see people become rich beyond their wildest dreams, yet in most instances the wealth doesn't solve their problems or bring contentment and happiness.  In fact the opposite is true.

I remember speaking with a group of youth who had just returned from a mission into a very impoverished mountain village in Mexico.  The youth had gone down to help make repairs to a tattered old building that served as the Christian orphanage.   The area had no electricity or running water and the youth brought in food and supplies with them.  When asked what surprised them most their answer was shocking.  They said here were these children living with nothing.  Rags for clothes, no shoes, barely anything to eat, yet they beamed with smiles of joy and genuine happiness in spite of their condition!  They even made gifts for the visitors out of sticks and leaves.  “We thought we were going to teach them about GOD’s love instead GOD used them to teach us.”

Surrendering all of ourselves to GOD is not easy.  Our nature, often to the dismay of our MAKER, wants to carve out a little something that only we control.  No matter how well-conceived and how skillfully executed, apart from the FOUNTAIN it is destined to dry up.   But here is the good news.  JESUS has provided us a direct lifeline to the FOUNTAIN.   The apostle Paul puts it so well in Philippians 4:12-13); “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.   I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”

Heavenly FATHER, we thank you for giving us the gift of life.  When we are tempted today to focus on the “what” redirect us to the “WHO”.   Link and sync us to the FOUNTAIN that refreshes and brings us back to that place of peace where we have joy and contentment no matter is going on around us.   In the name of JESUS CHRIST we pray, amen.