Satisfaction and Life in Jesus

This morning I heard an excellent sermon at Calvary Chapel Jericho Road by pastor Dale Dickinson who expounded upon Jeremiah 2.  In love God called His people to remember Him, for they had committed two evils in departing from Him, their fountain of living water and instead hewed for themselves broken cisterns that could hold no water.  The comparison between clean, water from a spring and a dry cistern could not be more stark.  No sensible person living in the desert would trade a pure spring for a cracked and empty well, but God's people had done the unthinkable by drifting from Him.

God described the folly of His people in Jeremiah 2:8:  "The priests did not say, 'Where is the LORD?' and those who handle the law did not know Me; the rulers also transgressed against Me; the prophets prophesied by Baal, and walked after things that do not profit."  Ignorance of God and His wisdom led to transgression by the priest and prophets.  I find God's observation fascinating, that the priests did not say, "Where is the LORD?"  The implication is they were content to continue their ministry of the temple without God's presence.  Perhaps it had become more of a job than a holy calling, the rites and routine of the daily ministrations digging a rut Tozer called a "circular grave" without the Living Water of the Holy Spirit.

If priests, rulers and prophets could drift from knowledge of God and His presence, it is possible for Christians to slowly depart from love and loyalty to Jesus.  Over time our hearts can grow dull and cold, and we can forget all Jesus has done, is doing and has promised to do with us.  Jesus warned His disciples in Matthew 24:11-12:  "Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. ¹² And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold."  It would be presumptuous to assume only unbelievers could be deceived, for believers can be led astray as well.  Due to sin those who have freely received God's agapao love can grow cold.  The main problem for Christians isn't the existence of false prophets but willing departure from God and placing our faith in what is not God.

Praise the LORD for His love toward us, that He who warns us also warms us by His grace.  The chill of sin may blanket a nation, but we can walk uprightly in the fear of God by the power of the Holy Spirit.  Broken, dry cisterns may be all around, but there is a source of Living Water by faith in Jesus Christ our LORD.  We find all our needs satisfied in Jesus, and He makes us to be a refreshing source of life through the Gospel to others.