Overflow or Runoff

“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).

Imagine two men. The first man enjoys a never-ending flow of water, beautiful, fresh and pure. The water flows over rocks as if dancing down the stream. The water quenches the man’s thirst. His fields are irrigated and his flocks drink from the river. Drought doesn’t reduce the flow of water, and the man prospers.

The second man ignores the benefits of great water flow and digs a cistern to catch the runoff rain water. The cistern breaks. The dirt absorbs the water and leaves the man with mud. This man is like one who looks for love in all the wrong places. Nothing satisfies, and he concludes that life is meaningless.

A Deeper Look

Life is meaningless without God. Consider that God is the Fountain of Living Water. The first man receives the abundant life from the ever-flowing water. He is refreshed. His flocks and fields are watered, and he prospers. The second man ignores God and all His benefits. He chooses to make his own way, and it turns to disaster. Nothing satisfies his thirst. His flocks and fields die. This is not the end. The man still has an opportunity to turn to God, the Fountain of Living Water. God will forgive him and redeem his life. At the end of the ages, the man could stand with Jesus and share His inheritance of abundant life. How great is our salvation!

This parable is for salvation, and it doesn’t mean that believers do not experience trouble. The difference is that they have Someone to stand with them and strengthen them in hard times.

Prayer

Father God, let us never forget or take lightly what You have done for us. Thank you for Jesus and the redemption He brought unto eternal life. In His great name, Amen.