“.. They have abandoned me, the fountain of living water, and dug cisterns for themselves — cracked cisterns that cannot hold water.”
Jeremiah 2:13 CSB
Have you ever tried filling a vessel that was cracked? A bucket, a cup or a holding tank of any kind that was made for liquids. It’s frustrating and unproductive. If you are traveling or trying to transport any liquids in it, you will arrive at your destination empty. Most likely, it will be empty much sooner than expected. In the first world it isn’t as common, but in some places with no running water and far from a source, if it’s water that your family, livestock or crops need, it can be a matter of life or death. Yet we often do this in life, intentionally using cracked cisterns. But it just doesn’t work. Because we try doing things our own way, using our own cracked cisterns instead of the good one that has already been provided.
When we find ourselves with little hope and struggling with identity and purpose, we should go back to the source of everything.
With so much misinformation and distractions bombarding us literally by the minute, it is possible to temporarily forget some really important things. We are forgetful creatures that need to be pointed to a transcendent and absolute truth that exists.
We were created in the image of God.
Created by Him and with a purpose for Him.
We were created as worshipers.
It’s who and what we are.
But we are also fallen creatures in a fallen world.
If we don’t worship God, we will worship ourselves, something(s) or someone else. Even if we may want to call it by another name.
There are many wonderful things in this world that God has given to us for our pleasure and enjoyment. But we can also adore and prioritize the wrong and less important things, which tend to lead us astray. We can get confused or deceived if we don’t cling to a real, objective truth that can be known and applies to everyone.
The truth is, we’ve all done it to some degree, at one time or another. And it is one of the great tragedies of the human experience. Contrary to new age thinking, knowledge of self actually begins with knowledge of God. That is where we find our answers to life’s great questions. The manufacturer of a vehicle that designed and produced it knows more about it than someone who simply owns one.
If we aren’t careful, in life, we can end up trying to drive a nail with a screwdriver. Or because of a real hunger within us, eat a plant that is beautiful to look upon, but can poison us instead of nourishing us, metaphorically speaking.
This happens when we try forcing something driven by our own desire for a purpose that it was never intended for. But it cannot satisfy us, and oftentimes only hurts us. This only makes life more painful and frustrating. Imagine drinking gasoline, or putting water in your gas tank. It’s not going to end well.
Only until we understand that everything has an intelligently designed purpose, and then aligning our perception of things with that ultimate reality, can we have the possibility of true understanding and joy. It is crucial that we lift our eyes above the fog to see the bigger picture, to see our great need, and to live for our true purpose. When we grasp that and go to Him as our source of knowledge, wisdom and purpose, is when everything begins to make sense and we can truly find ourselves. Everyone doing as they please and what is right only in their own eyes can only lead to utter chaos, confusion and more brokenness.
But the answer, and the key that unlocks everything, is Christ. All of God’s promises in Him are yes and amen. All who come to Him will never be cast out. He is the bridge which brings us back to God, the light that allows us to see clearly and the only source of forgiveness, knowledge and true hope. The healing for our souls that we desperately need. It is the knowledge of Him that gives us a real understanding of God’s plan in this broken world. When people and circumstances disappoint us, and life at times seems to be spiraling out of control, there is great hope in knowing that God is not like us. Rather, He is always Faithful, Unchanging and True.
One question that comes to mind is this…
Why would a wandering and thirsty soul in the heat of an unforgiving desert continue to refuse life giving water when offered? It is the only thing that will truly satisfy, quench the thirst, and ultimately, save his life.
Go to Him. You need Him. We all do.
“..but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”- Romans 5:8
Written by: Antonio Salgado
Please pray for our BCMS workers serving faithfully in hard places. May the Gospel continue to go forth, to God be the glory.
“I give thanks to my God for every remembrance of you, always praying with joy for all of you in my every prayer, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.” – Philippians 1:3-5
If the Lord so lies on your heart to give back to Him by supporting this ministry, you can easily donate online through PayPal. Click the donate button below to send support of any amount directly to the ministry. This is the fastest option to get funds to the mission field.
Also,
CENTRAL MISSIONARY CLEARINGHOUSE
P.O. Box 219228
Houston, Texas 77218-9228
1-800-CMC-PRAY (1-800-262-7729)
Office: 281-599-7411
Fax: 281-599-7511
You may begin sending your support to BCMS/Antonio Salgado at any time at the address above. (Checks should be made payable to Central Missionary Clearinghouse or C.M.C.)
You can also now give to the ministry online through the new giving solution called “click and give” at the CMC website. To get started, you just need to click on the link below and register the first time. Just a simple click on the donate button on their page (see link below), and then click the “click and give icon/button”.
https://www.cmcmissions.org/donate
For tax exemption, you must send your donation through Central Missionary Clearinghouse (CMC) at the address above. PayPal option is the fastest way to get funds directly to the field in case of emergencies. We do not use a sending agency that gets a percentage of the money donated, so you can be sure that your gift goes directly to the mission field. Whatever you decide, thank you so much for praying for us. Grace and peace.