For My people have committed two evils. They have forsaken Me, the Fountain of living waters, and have hewn for themselves cisterns, broken cisterns which can not hold water. (Jeremiah 2:13)
One decision shapes my life in Christ. Will I choose to live in the river of God, or cling to a cistern?
A cistern is a container of water. Because it has no outside source, the water gets stagnant quickly unless it is replenished. It is wet and it is water, but I won’t go anywhere swimming in it!
A river, on the other hand, has a constant source of input. It doesn’t get stagnant because it is always moving. It moves from the inside out by currents that push it forward. Its constant motion takes me with it, through crooks and bends. I may get hung up in debris, but the river continually works to free me.
The river not only cleanses me, it shapes my world at the same time. I don’t have to be perfect. I just choose to cooperate with His life inside me. He cleans me up AS He shapes my world by His life and purpose.
The river takes me to new places, moves me from shallows to deep and then back again. It goes through or over obstacles. Obstacles only give the river a chance to show off its superior strength by cascading waterfalls and rapids.
I can choose cistern living by defending opinions based on outdated or untrue information. They are set in concrete, just like the cistern, regardless of new information that challenges them. The smallness of the cistern vista breeds pride. Attitudes like “I already know that,” or “I’ve got this” define it.
Cistern living is safe and without adventure. I can say, “Look, I’m swimming,” but really I’m just bobbing around. River living challenges my thinking because it is so large, so uncontainable, so full of mystery. River thinking requires humility, but rewards me with a huge view.
I am willing to live in the deep water of Ezekiel 47 when I let God show me what I don’t know, so He can take me to a place I’ve never been. Any takers??
5 Comments. Leave new
Welcome to the blogosphere, Laurel!
Thanks, Maria! Finally getting it to work!
I’m proud of you, Laurel, for jumping in the river of the blog world. I think we are both open to new adventures…susie
Yes, Susie! Its gonna be good! Thanks for reading.
I love this one too!!